CostIndexUSA

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent
More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

St. Petersburg is moderately cheaper than Fort Lauderdale — 11.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $70,700 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing−19.2%
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries−7.8%
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation−10.6%
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare−10.6%
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
St. Petersburg
92.7
⚡ Utilities−9.0%
Fort Lauderdale
97.2
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Lauderdale to see what you'd need to earn in St. Petersburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$70,700
$9,300 less needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 114.2) = salary × 0.8835. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Home Price
$467,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,650
Housing Index
155.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Fort Lauderdale has 19.2% lower housing costs compared to St. Petersburg.

Income & Job Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Household Income
$76,300
Per Capita Income
$43,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
182,760
Top Industries
FinanceTourismHealthcareReal EstateMarine

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Lauderdale, FL
2.4×income-to-rent ratio

58% of income left after rent (median)

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Lauderdale vs other cities

Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Cape Coral, FL
Index: 114.2Index: 102.3
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Daytona Beach, FL
Index: 114.2Index: 99.4
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Gainesville, FL
Index: 114.2Index: 96.7
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Brownsville, TX
Index: 114.2Index: 86
Fort Lauderdale, FL
vs
Chattanooga, TN
Index: 114.2Index: 91.5

St. Petersburg vs other cities

St. Petersburg, FL
vs
Cape Coral, FL
Index: 100.9Index: 102.3
St. Petersburg, FL
vs
Daytona Beach, FL
Index: 100.9Index: 99.4
St. Petersburg, FL
vs
Gainesville, FL
Index: 100.9Index: 96.7
St. Petersburg, FL
vs
Scottsdale, AZ
Index: 100.9Index: 103.3
St. Petersburg, FL
vs
Lubbock, TX
Index: 100.9Index: 91.3

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.