The city of Key West is the county seat of Monroe County. The county consists of a section on the mainland which is almost entirely in Everglades National Park, and the Keys islands from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas.

Today there are 882 charted Key islands, 30 of which are inhabited. The 204-kilometer-long Overseas Highway, a concrete marvel of civil engineering built in the 1930s, connects the island arc from Key Largo in the northeast to Key West in the southwest.

There are a number of different islands, or keys, within each of the five distinctive regions here: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine and the Lower Keys, and Key West.

If you are looking to get a “feel” for the Keys on a very short stay, Islamorada is your best bet. Key Largo is nice, but it kind of reminds me of just any old southern town. Islamorada has a more “laid back” vibe, and offers more activities, at least in my experience.

A nearly five-acre private island in the Florida Keys sold for an unprecedented $11 million on Friday, making it the priciest sale ever in Marathon, Florida, and the most expensive private island sold in the Keys.

The cost of staying in Key West isn’t terribly different from the cost of staying in Key Largo. Food prices are similar — though Key West has far more high-end restaurants than Key Largo — and hotel rates are also comparable. Activity fees are similar, charter costs are also proportionate on each Key.

You will have plenty of space to explore. Over 99% of the county’s population lives on the Florida Keys, and the county seat is Key West. Each island has its own personality where you can find a place to fit in. Locals say that they have a “conch” of culture.

FAMOUS CELEBRITIES WHO’VE LIVED IN KEY WEST

• President Harry S. Truman.
• Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway is perhaps Key West’s most famous resident.
• Judy Blume. Another famous author to have a home in Key West is Judy Blume.
• Jimmy Buffett. Most people don’t realize that Jimmy Buffett got his musical start right here in Key West.

The barrier reef does it’s job of protecting the Florida Keys from large ocean waves. There is no surfing in Key West because there is no surf. Without those big waves hitting the Keys, the mechanism required for creating sand naturally is missing. Most beaches in the Keys are man-made for this reason.

Whether buying or selling, it is always a good time to invest in a Florida Keys home. The Florida Keys is a different type of real estate market. Property values continuously remain strong, and properties continue to move quickly. Living in the Keys is like taking a permanent vacation in a tropical paradise.

TALLYING THE COST OF LIVING. Because of the logistics and high demand, Key West regularly ranks as Florida’s most expensive place to live. A home assessed at $500,000 in Key West will pay $5,582 in property taxes this year (that includes the city, county, school district and other taxing authorities).

Key West is all about location, and monthly rentals offer an excellent investment performance on a tiny island with limited land and properties, and strong appreciation in value. Many monthly rentals are located in quieter Key West residential neighborhoods, away from main tourist attractions.

Before we begin answering that question, there’s another question that needs to be addressed: Is Airbnb legal in the Key West real estate market? Fortunately, the answer is yes. To be on the safe side, be sure to review the short term rental laws and Airbnb regulations in Key West before investing in the city.

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

1. Prepare. Make a trip to the mainland for visits to your local Costco or BJ’s and stock up.
2. Get a roommate. Two roommates could be even better.
3. Get a bike.
4. When you need supplies locally, avoid Duval Street.
5. Don’t live in Key West.

In Key West, a license is required to rent short-term housing for fewer than 30 days. In Miami Beach, short-term rentals are banned in single-family homes and in many multi-family housing buildings depending on which zone they are in. Approved short-term rentals require a license.