South Florida is the region's price ceiling: the storied Gold Coast of Palm Beach County, the airports and canal world of Broward, and the international energy of Miami-Dade. Here is the honest cost picture for all three.
Wiz's tip
If your budget spans two counties, let the market data, not the waterfront views, choose for you. Michael compares the exact neighborhoods at your price range across counties in one honest session.
Home prices across the three counties
Palm Beach County single-family medians held near $605,000 to $645,000, the top all-cash market in the country. Broward single-family medians ran near $610,000 to $640,000 with an all-homes median near $450,000. Miami-Dade single-family medians held near $665,000 to $682,000 after a 13-year appreciation run.
Property taxes and insurance
Effective property tax rates run about 0.82 percent in Palm Beach, 0.81 percent in Miami-Dade, and 0.94 to 0.96 percent in Broward. Homeowners insurance is the region's heaviest: Palm Beach averaged about $5,200 to $6,600 annually by recent county data, Broward about $5,100 to $6,300, and Miami-Dade about $5,400 to $6,000. Coastal addresses, especially near water, pay far more.
What the premium buys
You pay the Gold Coast premium for market strength, international airports, dining, culture, and waterfront lifestyle, plus the strongest appreciation history in the state. The no-state-income-tax advantage applies statewide, so the trade is homes and insurance versus energy and amenity.
Renting before buying
Rents in the region run roughly $1,400 to $2,500 a month depending on county and unit, which makes rent-before-buy smart for families new to the area. Michael frequently works with clients who rent for a season, learn the neighborhoods, then buy with certainty.