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Brevard county cost of living update

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt

About Brevard County cost of living

The cost of living index is based on the composite price of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, clothing and entertainment.

Cost of living indexes will generally be higher in areas that offer access to beaches, culture, arts and recreation. In addition areas, that offer a wider variety of services such as health and education will run higher due to higher wages, and increased quality of living.

Cost of living indexing explanation
A figure of 100 points is used as an average both for the USA and Florida. For example:
Boise Idaho is ranked at a 99
Boston Mass is rated at 240
San Francisco at 217
Statewide, Florida cities come in from a low of 90 and up.
One way to compare Florida areas to salary requirements
For example-If you were relocating from Portland Oregon (whose rate 1s 120) to Melbourne fl, and you currently make $50,000 per year, the formula is as follows
Take the destination index, in this case Melbourne-92.72 and divide by Portland’s index-120, then multiply by a salary of $50,000. This will give you a figure of $38,633.00 which would be required to make in Melbourne to have the same quality of life.

See comparable Florida statewide
* Re cost of living--in some areas Real Estate has went up dramatically however costs that factor in such as food, transportation, rents etc have not increased at the same rate-so in some areas, even though housing is expensive, the overall rating may still be low
2007 stats per Sperlings best Places http://www.bestplaces.net/

Bradenton-114
Cape Coral-Ft Myers-108.0
Ft Lauderdale-132.0
Fort Walton-Destin-120
Jacksonville metro-94.0
Key Largo-146.0
Key West-168.0
Miami metro-138.0
Melbourne-92.72
Orlando metro-94.0
Palm Bay-84.56
Palm Coast-Flagler-125.01
Panama City-86.35
Pensacola metro-82.0
Sarasota-108.75
Tampa 94.60
St Pete-Clearwater-91.58
Vero-Beach Indian River-122.87
West Palm Beach metro-112.05
(Population Weighted-State Average=100
See national comparisons
Cost of living (100 = nationwide average)

* New York, NY -164.50
* Long Beach, CA -135.71
* Palo Alto, CA -234.42
* Boston, MA -127.60
* Malibu, CA -492.80
* San Francisco, -187.23
* Greenwich, CT 215
* Chicago, IL -126.45
* Dallas Tx -92,94
* Atlanta Ga -112.21

For more information about cost of living go to either Sperlings best Places http://www.bestplaces.net/
or Accra's site at http://www.coli.org/

The Melbourne area (Brevard County) is ranked at 92.72 on the price index.

Housing.
A minimum two bedroom single family homes in Brevard County.
From January 2005 through July 26/2005, the median sold price is $217,000.
The median price for properties sold as of Aprilt/2008 is $211,000.

Go to the link below to get more information regarding City and Municipal services.
http://www.melbourneflorida.org/serv/

A personal observation: Melbourne is a small city and so the drive time to shopping, recreation etc is short…meaning you won’t burn as much gas, which in this day and age is definitely a help. I find the car insurance and home insurance rates very reasonable. (If you live on or near the water and require flood insurance, the rates will be higher)

In conclusion, Melbourne is a great place to live.

susan engle

Susan R. Engle
REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt
907 US Highway 192
Melbourne, FL 32901
Direct: (321) 951-3300
Cell: (321) 543-8172
Fax: (321) 951-3080
E-mail

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