Cost of Living In Tamarac, FL

Tamarac sits in central Broward County as a largely residential, built-out suburb of Fort Lauderdale. This article breaks down the main price components you’ll encounter living here: Tamarac real estate, taxes, utilities, groceries, transportation, and income benchmarks and other factors of the cost of living in Tamarac Florida. 

Is It Expensive To Buy A Home In Tamarac?

Home prices in Tamarac sit well below many coastal Broward spots. The Zillow Home Value Index puts the typical Tamarac home around $300,000 (about $299,500–$300,900, depending on ZIP), down roughly 3–8% year over year. 

By comparison, Broward County’s overall median sale price is about $435,000, and Fort Lauderdale’s median is around $530,000, with Pompano Beach near $390,000, underscoring Tamarac’s relative affordability. 

That price reflects a mix of condos, mid-century single-family homes, and townhomes, so if you are budgeting, use $300,000–$340,000 as a realistic starting list-price range for many properties, then add typical buyer costs like closing fees, inspections, and any condo or HOA buy-ins.

What is the Average Rent in Tamarac?

A useful marker for renters: recent rental market trackers put the average two-bedroom rent in Tamarac roughly in the low-to-mid $2,200s per month. RentCafe lists a two-bed average at about $2,253 (latest update Oct 2025).

Rents still vary a lot by building and unit type. Older garden-style complexes and 1970s–1980s condo communities often have 2-bed units in roughly the $1,700–$2,000 range, and in neighbourhoods like Mainlands about 82% of apartments rent between $1,501 and $2,000 per month. Newer, amenity-heavy properties and upgraded single-family or townhome rentals near major corridors typically run higher, with many 2-bed listings between $2,200 and the low $3,000s and some tracked in the $2,000–$3,562 band.

What Are The Taxes in Tamarac?

Florida has no state income tax, which eases take-home pay for residents comparing overall tax burdens to many other states. Local taxes that matter most for homeowners and residents include property taxes set via Broward County millage rates and various small non-ad valorem assessments.

Property tax bills are computed by multiplying the taxable value by the combined millage rate for county, city, school district, and special districts. Expect annual bills to depend on assessed value changes and the final millage rates adopted for the tax year. 

How High Are Property Taxes in Tamarac?

There isn’t a single “Tamarac rate,” because each bill layers Broward County, City of Tamarac, school board, and special-district millages, but county tax-roll data shows Tamarac’s median effective property tax rate around 1.4%, with most homes falling roughly between 0.8% and 2.1%. On a typical Tamarac home with an assessed value near $285,000, that works out to a median tax bill of about $3,600 a year (roughly $300 a month), with many owners falling in a $2,100–$5,700 annual range depending on value and exemptions.

Because Florida allows the homestead exemption and caps certain assessed-value increases, two similar homes can still show different tax bills depending on exemption status and non-ad valorem assessments. When budgeting annually, assume property taxes in Broward will represent a mid-range share of the total monthly housing carry (mortgage, insurance, taxes, HOA) rather than a negligible line item.

What Are the Average Monthly Utility Bills in Tamarac?

Power is the largest utility expense for most Tamarac households. Use 15–16¢/kWh as a local planning rate (EnergySage / regional summaries, June 2025).

Typical single-family households in South Florida with regular air conditioning often see summer electric bills much higher than winter bills; a cautious monthly planning allowance is $150–$300 for electricity alone depending on home size, thermostat habits, and insulation. Add standard water/sewer, basic trash collection, and a modest internet package to reach a total utility estimate commonly between $220 and $420 per month for many households.

How Much Should I Budget for Groceries in Tamarac?

Use the USDA food plans as a starting baseline and then scale for household size and local prices. The USDA’s January 2025 Food Plans provide per-person monthly estimates at different cost levels (Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate, Liberal). For a single adult using a moderate plan, expect roughly the USDA’s monthly figure adjusted for local market differences; for Broward County shoppers, budget an extra 5–15 percent for specialty items and fresh seafood typical of South Florida.

If you prefer market data, crowd-sourced cost-of-living sites show grocery indexes close to national averages for many Florida cities; practical budgeting for a two-adult household that eats at home most nights tends to fall in the $500–$900 per month range depending on dietary choices and how often you dine out. Combine USDA per-person numbers with your household count to create a defensible grocery line on your monthly budget.

How Much Does Transportation Cost in Tamarac?

Public transit in Broward is affordable for occasional riders: Broward County Transit’s current posted one-way cash fare is $2, with day and multi-day pass options for frequent riders (all-day, 3-day, monthly passes are listed on BCT fare pages). If you plan to use buses a few times weekly, include pass costs rather than single fares for simplicity.

For most Tamarac residents, a car is required. Budget items include fuel, insurance, and maintenance. If you drive daily and average 800–1,000 miles per month, fuel will be one of the larger recurring costs; use AAA or local price trackers for current per-gallon estimates and multiply by your vehicle’s mpg. Don’t forget parking, tolls on some commutes, and occasional rideshare or taxi costs for nights out.

What is the Median Household Income in Tamarac?

The City of Tamarac’s published community profile lists a “Current Median Household Income” figure of $44,399.

Independent demographic aggregators report different figures (for example, DataUSA lists a 2023 median closer to about $59,200), which reflects differences in data vintage, methodology, and the exact geographies used. Where precise income benchmarking is meaningful for affordability modeling, compare the official profile of the city with independent resources and use the conservative figure for safety in personal budgeting.

How much do you need to make to live in Tamarac? 

Recommended income is based on household size and housing selection. A common rule is to keep housing costs (rent or mortgage + taxes + insurance) below 30–35 percent of gross income. Using that rule and the RentCafe two-bed average (~$2,253/month), a single-earner household would aim for gross monthly income of about $6,500–$7,400 (annual roughly $78k–$89k) to keep housing at or under 35 percent, though shared households or smaller rented units lower that threshold.

How Does the Cost of Living in Tamarac Compare to the National Average?

Cost-of-living indexes (Numbeo and similar trackers) place many South Florida suburbs near or a bit above U.S. averages on rent and housing-related indexes but close to the national average for groceries and utilities. Mid-2025 cost-of-living snapshots show Tamarac’s regional profile as similar to many Broward suburbs—housing costs are the main differentiator versus the national average.

In plain terms: Tamarac is generally more expensive than the U.S. median when housing or rent demand spikes, but because it lacks the absolute coastal-premium of some nearby cities, it can be lower than Fort Lauderdale beach neighborhoods while still higher than many inland, non-metro parts of the United States. Factor in Florida’s no-income-tax advantage when comparing net pay to states with higher combined tax burdens.

Cost of Living Data and Neighbourhood Affordability

Local cost of living data and published cost of living scores are useful when you want to compare Tamarac to an average city or nearby places to live. Look at rent prices, the average cost of living, and broader indexes together rather than in isolation; that gives a clearer view of affordability than any single number. When you compare Tamarac with nearby cities, use the same data source so the average cost and cost of living score are comparable across zip codes and neighbourhoods.

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