Palm Bay, Florida
Living in Palm Bay, Florida is about 5% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 105 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,887 a month, 2% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.77 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 52% of the area's $67,517 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.77
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,887
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$14.49
Combo meal
Electricity
14.99¢
per kWh · ~$135/mo
Car Insurance
$265/mo
$3,183/yr
Median Household Income
$67,517
52.1% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $3,183 in Palm Bay. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,887/mo in Palm Bay. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$14.49
Casual Dining
$26.43
Monthly Spend
$461.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Palm Bay?
Average 1BR: $1,547/mo · 2BR: $2,227/mo
Palm Bay Cost of Living FAQ
Is Palm Bay, FL expensive to live in?
Palm Bay has a cost of living index of 105, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 5% more expensive than average. It is the 11th most affordable of the 25 Florida cities we track.
What is the average rent in Palm Bay, FL?
Typical rent in Palm Bay is $1,887 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 2% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,547 and two bedrooms about $2,227. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Palm Bay?
Rent in Palm Bay rose 1.6% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Palm Bay?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.77 a gallon in Palm Bay as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Florida. That is 5% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Palm Bay?
Homes in Florida pay an average of 15.0 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Palm Bay is about $135.
How much is car insurance in Palm Bay?
Full coverage car insurance averages $3,183 a year in Florida, or about $265 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Palm Bay?
Median household income in the Palm Bay area is $67,517 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $35,209 a year, or 52% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Palm Bay compare with the rest of Florida?
Rent in Palm Bay is 2% below the $1,929 average across the 25 Florida cities we track, and its cost of living index of 105 compares with a state average of 102.
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