Fort Myers, FL vs St. Petersburg, FL

Fort Myers, FL and St. Petersburg, FL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Fort Myers scores 109 while St. Petersburg scores 110 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Myers is $1,442/month compared to $1,542/month in St. Petersburg — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Myers has cheaper rent, St. Petersburg actually has lower median home values ($331,500 vs $351,600).

Median household income in Fort Myers is $62,160 compared to $73,118 in St. Petersburg (-15%). While St. Petersburg is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Myers spend roughly 27.8% of their income on rent, more than the 25.3% in St. Petersburg.