South University-West Palm Beach · Living here

Cost of living near South University-West Palm Beach: Royal Palm Beach, FL

Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, FL · Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area. Built only from free public data, with each figure's source and year. County figures describe the whole county, not just the neighborhood around campus.

Estimated monthly student budget

Off-campus, sharing a 2-bedroom, 9-month academic year. Estimate, not a quote.

Rent + utilities (your half of a 2-bedroom)
Here $939/moU.S. typical $704/mo
Source
ACS county median gross rent for a 2-bedroom (gross rent includes utilities) ÷ 2 roommates
Groceries
Here $356/moU.S. typical $344/mo
Source
USDA Thrifty Food Plan (avg of adult female/male 20–50, +20% single-person adjustment) × BEA goods price parity
Transportation, phone & personal
Here $934/moU.S. typical $469/mo
Source
College-reported 'other expenses' for off-campus students (Scorecard 2024–25) ÷ 9 months
Books & supplies
Here $60/moU.S. typical n/a
Source
College-reported books & supplies ÷ 9 months
Total / month$2,289U.S. typical $1,517*

Item	Here / month	U.S. typical
Rent + utilities (your half of a 2-bedroom)ACS county median gross rent for a 2-bedroom (gross rent includes utilities) ÷ 2 roommates	$939	$704
GroceriesUSDA Thrifty Food Plan (avg of adult female/male 20–50, +20% single-person adjustment) × BEA goods price parity	$356	$344
Transportation, phone & personalCollege-reported 'other expenses' for off-campus students (Scorecard 2024–25) ÷ 9 months	$934	$469
Books & suppliesCollege-reported books & supplies ÷ 9 months	$60	n/a
Total	$2,289	$1,517*

Rent, groceries and other costs here are about $712/month more than the U.S. typical student estimate (excluding books).

*U.S. column uses national ACS 2-bedroom rent, the unadjusted USDA plan, and the median college-reported off-campus “other expenses” across 1,944 colleges; no national books figure. Not included: tuition, health insurance, travel home, furniture/deposits, dining out. On campus instead? The college reports room & board of — per year (not reported).

Source: Estimate built from ACS 2020–2024 (rent), USDA Thrifty Food Plan 2026-08 × BEA goods RPP 2024 (groceries), and the college's own Scorecard 2024–25 cost components.

Cost of living

Prices overall are 14% above the U.S. average (U.S. = 100).

All items114.2

U.S. 100.0

Housing rents155.6

U.S. 100.0

Goods (incl. groceries)103.6

U.S. 100.0

Utilities97.2

U.S. 100.0

Other services109.1

U.S. 100.0

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro

Rent & housing

Studio$1,584

U.S. $1,248

1 bedroom$1,688

U.S. $1,235

2 bedrooms$1,878

U.S. $1,407

All rentals (median)$1,916

U.S. $1,413

On-campus room & board (college, per year): —
Off-campus room & board (college estimate, per year): $9,439

ACS medians are 5-year averages and run below today's asking rents in fast-rising markets. HUD Fair Market Rents aren't included yet.

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year, county median gross rent (rent + utilities) by bedrooms; College Scorecard 2024–25 room & board

Getting around

How local workers commute. It's a proxy for transit and walkability, not a Walk Score.

Public transit1.5%

U.S. 3.2%

Walk1.2%

U.S. 2.4%

Bicycle0.4%

U.S. —

Drive alone69.5%

U.S. 68.8%

Work from home15.3%

U.S. —

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024, means of transportation to work (county workers 16+)

Things to do (proxy)

Per 10,000 residents. Business counts are a rough stand-in for nightlife and amenities; they don't measure quality or student-friendliness.

Restaurants, cafés & bars20.8

U.S. 21.3

3,194 establishments in the county

Bars & drinking places0.5

U.S. 1.2

80 in the county (21+ in the U.S.)

Arts, entertainment & recreation6.8

U.S. 5.0

1,048 venues, gyms, museums, etc.

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023 establishment counts ÷ ACS county population

Groceries & daily needs

Grocery & food stores per 10k residents5.3

U.S. 4.8

Estimated groceries for one student: $356/month (USDA Thrifty plan, adjusted by local goods prices). Cooking more or eating out raises it.

Source: Census CBP 2023 (food & beverage retailers, NAICS 445); USDA Thrifty Food Plan Aug 2026; BEA goods RPP 2024

People

Population: 1,533,806
Median age: 45.3; U.S. 38.9
Median household income: $83,581; U.S. $80,734
Diversity index: 0.66; U.S. 0.61

Diversity index = chance that two random residents differ in race/ethnicity (0–1), from ACS table B03002.

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B01003, B01002, B19013, B03002), county

Healthcare nearby

Hospitals in county: 21
Clinics & outpatient providers: 5,793

Most colleges require health insurance. International students usually must buy the school plan or show an equivalent.

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 622 hospitals, 621 ambulatory care)

Also check (not in our data yet)

Campus safety: the college's Annual Security Report, and the U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety & Security tool .
Climate: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals for winters, heat and rain.
Walkability: Walk Score is a paid product, so we use commute data instead. Visit, or look at a map of the campus area.
Current rents: HUD Fair Market Rents and local listings. ACS medians trail today's prices.

Sources & years

NCES IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD2024) — 2024-25
U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, county — 2020–2024
U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — 2023
BEA Regional Price Parities (metro MARPP / state SARPP) — 2024
College Scorecard cost components (room & board, books, other expenses) — 2024-25
USDA Thrifty Food Plan, U.S. average (monthly cost) — Aug 2026

County matched via IPEDS HD2024 county code; metro via IPEDS CBSA. Figures are averages and estimates for planning, not guarantees.

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