Boca Raton, FL vs Port St. Lucie, FL

The cost of living difference between Boca Raton, FL and Port St. Lucie, FL is dramatic. Port St. Lucie is 40.7% cheaper than Boca Raton, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Boca Raton has a cost index of 164 while Port St. Lucie sits at 117, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Boca Raton is $2,334/month compared to $1,781/month in Port St. Lucie — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Port St. Lucie is more affordable at $327,700 median vs $660,100.

Median household income in Boca Raton is $102,722 compared to $78,137 in Port St. Lucie (+31.5%). The higher salaries in Boca Raton partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Boca Raton spend roughly 27.3% of their income on rent, less than the 27.4% in Port St. Lucie.