CostIndexUSA

Modesto, CA vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Modesto
104.1
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

St. Petersburg is slightly cheaper than Modesto — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Modesto, you would need $77,500 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.9%
Modesto
108.5
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries9.2%
Modesto
105.2
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation2.8%
Modesto
105.3
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Modesto
95.3
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities41.9%
Modesto
152.3
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 104.1) = salary × 0.9693. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Modesto, CA

Median Home Price
$457,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
108.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

St. Petersburg, FL

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

St. Petersburg has 15.9% higher housing costs compared to Modesto.

Income & Job Market

Modesto, CA

Median Household Income
$82,800
Per Capita Income
$47,200
Unemployment Rate
6.6%
Population
218,464
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

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).

Modesto, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

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

67% of income left after rent (median)

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.