CostIndexUSA

Raleigh, NC vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Raleigh
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
FL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Raleigh is slightly cheaper than St. Petersburg — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Raleigh, you would need $82,200 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+21.5%
Raleigh
103.5
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries1.1%
Raleigh
96.6
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Raleigh
103.1
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Raleigh
93.3
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities0.6%
Raleigh
89
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$82,200
$2,200 more needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.0275. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

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 21.5% higher housing costs compared to Raleigh.

Income & Job Market

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

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).

Raleigh, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.