Moving to Key West Florida and the Cost of Living

Moving To Key West & The Cost Of Living In Key West

2022 Update: This Key West article was written in 2018. Costs have changed drastically since then and even more scrutiny needs to be giving when considering a move to Key West

Just about anyone who loves the Island & Beach Life has thought about moving to Key West in Florida at one point in their life. However, very few consider the cost of living before actually moving.

Assuming of course you do not already live in Key West, it can seem a bit challenging to get there. Just like any other move, you need to take into consideration your typical moving expenses, housing, and perhaps a new career. But moving to Key West is not really the tough part. Residing there with an unexpected increased of living expenses can be the real challenge.

Unlike any other town in the USA, the mention of "Key West" brings to mind a lazy carefree life.

Relaxing ocean side or bar hopping on Duval Street or visiting The Green Parrot is a daily experience for anyone that wants to live it, right? Suddenly you start to think of selling your house in Massachusetts, quitting your job, piling everything into a U Haul, and taking the trek.

Slow down there!
The reality is the streets of Key West are not lined with gold. Even though Route 1 will bring you right to the island, you are still living on an island. That means everything will start to get more expensive. Gas, food, and housing are much more that on the main land. Because Key West is 3 hours from Miami, the expense of getting goods and supplies to the island will hit your wallet a bit harder. Living in Key West is also very desirable, thus driving up the costs due to basic supply and demand economics. You need to take all of this into consideration before moving to Key West.

Here are some things top to consider before moving to Key West:

Get a job lined up. This is probably the most challenging thing to have ready. Unemployment is high and job competition is fierce. Unless you have a specialized skill that is in demand and limited, you will likely be landing a tourist related job. Food service workers and gift shop cashier positions are going to be the most common and tough to get. You may want to consider going to the island first and meeting potential employers instead of trying to get a job over the phone.

Find Housing. A 1-2 bed room cottage or apartment could easily cost $1200-$1800 a month. In many cases it will be much more. A 2-3 Bedroom home could be in the $300-500k range. That is for something that needs a LOT of TLC. Something decent and ready to move into is much closer to the $1,000,000 mark. Condo's of course will be much cheaper.

Food. You will find a few common big box grocery stores with prices a bit more than on the main land. However, your local restaurants and sub shops are operating on island time too, and have a budget to match. Expect to pay resort prices for your prepared meals and cocktails.

Gas. 87 Octane will run about 10% more than on the main land.

Family. It's a great place to visit, but Key West is not always family friendly. An excessive amount of locals and tourist are in party mode and tend to be more adult themed. Also, the low rated public schools are common and a turn off as well for parents.

So how can you justify moving to Key West on a budget? There are a few options.

Prepare. Make a trip to the mainland for visits to your local Costco or BJ's and stock up.
Get a roommate. Two roommates could be even better. Cut your rent and utility bills in half or more.
Get a bike. Driving in Key West can be a nightmare. You will find it much easier to ride a bike as the island is small enough. You will save not only time, but gas.
When you need supplies locally, avoid Duval Street. Duval Street is the main tourist area so everything will be more pricey.
Don't live in Key West. Many people that work in Key West do not live there. They will find a place to stay a few keys up and drive to work. Sure, you may not be living next to Mallory Square, but you are very close and the sunsets are still the same.

If you plan accordingly, there will be little surprises. If visiting Smathers Beach, going snorkeling, people watching, biking, boating, and kayaking (to name a few) are worth it when you are not working, then the decision is easy to make. Move to Key West and be the envy of your friends. Be smart and live the Island & Beach life that many of us want to be a part of.

Do you need some resources for moving to Key West?

Gas Prices. FloridaGasPrices.com
City of Key West Web Site. KeyWestCity.com
Jobs Monster.com Key West
Real Estate Coldwell Banker Florida Keys

Moving To Key West & The Cost Of Living In Key West Southernmost Buoy

72 comments

Kay Apr 26, 2017

Houseboat living seems the cheaper way to go. I’m looking at putting an Aqua Lodge down there. The boat is under $90k, so it’s a great deal cheaper than trying to get into an apartment. Just gotta find the right slip.
Born and raised here Apr 02, 2017

Great place to raise an opened children. I taught here for seven years and I can guarantee that all the schools are not poor. Yes, it’s very expensive – it’s called supply and demand. If you want to live in paradise, it’s expensive but there’s no other place like it in the world.
Bernadette becker Mar 23, 2017

I came in 1979. Really great place to have and raise two daughters. Both did very well at key west high and went on to universities to get master degrees. So, no problem with education !! At a young age they experienced transvestites in public restrooms and the usual duval drunkenness. It gave them a liberal look on life and a distaste for drunks. I am a dental hygienist and always worked with a better Salery than Illinois. Raised those girls in a house we built in Sugarloaf that is gorgeous! Now one is in st Augustine, and one bought a house on Sugarloaf with her young family. Kids grow up here with sunshine, ocean, and. Love. Very tight local community. I’d get a call if someone saw those girls misbehaving in key west!! It’s paradise !!!
Linda Gee Mar 22, 2017

This is a horrible place to live. People are very unfriendly. Yes, there is a large gay community, but don’t be fooled that such acceptance means it’s a liberal community. Much of it is pseudo-liberal. (Like any place, there are some wonderful people, but too few to make up for the trash.) This is no place to raise a family. It should just be thought of as a wonderful place to vacation. After 8 years, we have become virtual hermits. We have lived in 5 different states, and many more cities and employment and university locations. We remain friends with people in all places that we have lived, and left some of our heart behind. But not this place It is a beautiful place to have an exceptional vacation. But don’t be seduced into living here. We’d love to hear from others where we might be able to live the last chapter of our life in a friendly and peaceful place – either one or both.
Ruby Mar 21, 2017

This article is good except for the “not family friendly” info. I have lived here 10 years and both my young children are growing up here. If you are a family in this town, you know that there are many families here and lots of family friendly events! Parents and kids that live here don’t wander around Duval street watching drunk people at night lol. We are boating, fishing, and taking advantage of the waters here. Also, the schools are not “low rated.” Sigsbee charter school and Montessori are the highest rated schools in Monroe county, both A’s. in fact Monroe County schools are rated higher than Fort Lauderdale or Miami. My kids are lucky to grow up in this beautiful place!