Cost of Living in Mary Esther, FL
Population 4,034 · Florida · Data vintage 2023
(100 = US avg)
Mary Esther sits on the smaller end of the Florida city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible.
Located 90 miles east of Mobile, Mary Esther is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Median home values run roughly 50% higher than Mobile's $170,000.
Cost Overview
Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.
About the Cost of Living in Mary Esther
The median home value in Mary Esther is $255,300 — 16% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,517/month, 15% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $76,510/year is 3% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 5.9%, above the national average of 4.8%. Florida charges no state income tax, a meaningful advantage for take-home pay. Overall, Mary Esther has a cost of living index of 96 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 4% less expensive.
Mary Esther has limited residential data
Detailed housing and income data is limited for this location. Here are the nearest cities with full cost of living data:
🏠 Housing
HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom
💰 Estimated Monthly Budget
Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.
🛒 Food & Groceries
National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.
🚗 Transportation
Commute Mode
⚡ Utilities
📋 Taxes
💼 Income & Employment
🎓 Education
👥 Demographics
💨 Air Quality
EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Mary Esther, FL?
Mary Esther has a cost index of 96 (100 = national average). It is 4% below the national average.
What is average rent in Mary Esther, FL?
The median gross rent in Mary Esther is $1,517 per month based on 2023 Census data.
What is the average home price in Mary Esther?
The median home value in Mary Esther is $255,300 according to Zillow and Census data.
What is the median income in Mary Esther?
The median household income in Mary Esther is $76,510 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).
What is the sales tax in Mary Esther, FL?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in Mary Esther is 7.0%. Florida has no state income tax.
Is Mary Esther, FL affordable?
Mary Esther is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 96 (100 = US average).
Mary Esther at a Glance
- Population
- 4,034
- Median Income
- $76,510
- Home Value
- $255,300
- Median Rent
- $1,517/mo
- Unemployment
- 5.9%
- Sales Tax
- 7.0%
Nearby Cities
Explore county-level cost of living data
Florida Rankings
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