Port St. Lucie, FL vs Tampa, FL

Port St. Lucie, FL and Tampa, FL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Port St. Lucie scores 117 while Tampa scores 114 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 Port St. Lucie is $1,781/month compared to $1,567/month in Tampa — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Tampa has cheaper rent, Port St. Lucie actually has lower median home values ($327,700 vs $375,300).

Median household income in Port St. Lucie is $78,137 compared to $71,302 in Tampa (+9.6%). While Port St. Lucie is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Port St. Lucie spend roughly 27.4% of their income on rent, more than the 26.4% in Tampa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (73.1°F vs 74.5°F). Port St. Lucie receives more rainfall at 51.2" per year compared to 49.5" in Tampa.