CostIndexUSA

Portland, ME vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

ME
Portland
101.9
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

St. Petersburg is slightly cheaper than Portland — 1.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Portland, you would need $79,200 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+19.6%
Portland
105.2
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries1.7%
Portland
97.2
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation5.5%
Portland
108.4
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare5.4%
Portland
98
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities34.2%
Portland
134.6
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$79,200
$800 less needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 101.9) = salary × 0.9902. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Portland, ME

Median Home Price
$516,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
105.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.5×

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 19.6% higher housing costs compared to Portland.

Income & Job Market

Portland, ME

Median Household Income
$92,100
Per Capita Income
$52,500
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
68,408
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationTourismFinanceTechnology

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).

Portland, ME
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.