CostIndexUSA

Port St. Lucie, FL vs Salinas, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Port St. Lucie
100.2
overall index
$2,325/mo rent
CA
Salinas
109
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Port St. Lucie is moderately cheaper than Salinas — 8.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Port St. Lucie, you would need $87,000 in Salinas. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+28.3%
Port St. Lucie
113.6
Salinas
145.7
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Port St. Lucie
96.2
Salinas
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Port St. Lucie
103.8
Salinas
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Port St. Lucie
93.9
Salinas
95.3
Utilities+77.2%
Port St. Lucie
87
Salinas
154.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Salinas, CA
$87,000
$7,000 more needed in Salinas

Formula: salary × (109 ÷ 100.2) = salary × 1.0878. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Port St. Lucie, FL

Median Home Price
$375,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,325
Housing Index
113.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

Salinas, CA

Median Home Price
$826,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
145.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.9×

Salinas has 28.3% higher housing costs compared to Port St. Lucie.

Income & Job Market

Port St. Lucie, FL

Median Household Income
$68,300
Per Capita Income
$38,900
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
204,851
Top Industries
HealthcareRetailConstructionTourismFinance

Salinas, CA

Median Household Income
$88,000
Per Capita Income
$50,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
163,542
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Port St. Lucie, FL
2.4×income-to-rent ratio

59% of income left after rent (median)

Salinas, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% 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.