CICostIndexUSA

San Diego, CA vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$3,000/mo rent
More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$2,025/mo rent

St. Petersburg is moderately cheaper than San Diego — 9.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Diego, you would need $72,100 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.8%
San Diego
179.3
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries11.6%
San Diego
108
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation2.1%
San Diego
104.6
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
San Diego
94.6
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities49.2%
San Diego
174.2
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$72,100
$7,900 less needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 111.9) = salary × 0.9017. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Diego, CA

Median Home Price
$934,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
179.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.9×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$362,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

San Diego has 29.8% lower housing costs compared to St. Petersburg.

Income & Job Market

San Diego, CA

Median Household Income
$109,100
Per Capita Income
$62,200
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
1,386,932
Top Industries
MilitaryTechnologyTourismBiotechnologyHealthcare

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$78,300
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

San Diego, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

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

69% 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.