CostIndexUSA

Salem, OR vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Salem
103.6
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

St. Petersburg is slightly cheaper than Salem — 2.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salem, you would need $77,900 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+14.1%
Salem
110.3
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries9.3%
Salem
105.3
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation2.8%
Salem
105.3
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Salem
95.3
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities15.5%
Salem
104.7
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9739. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salem, OR

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
110.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.0×

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 14.1% higher housing costs compared to Salem.

Income & Job Market

Salem, OR

Median Household Income
$74,600
Per Capita Income
$42,500
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
174,365
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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).

Salem, OR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.