Median rent is 11% lower in Austin ($1,729/mo vs $1,937/mo). Buying is cheaper in Port St. Lucie, where the median home runs $369,200 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $80,648 a year). Taken together, Port St. Lucie is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 95.7 against 98.3 — about 3% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Austin, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Port St. Lucie is 3% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 95.7 in Port St. Lucie vs 98.3 in Austin (US national average = 100)
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Port St. Lucie, FL
How much would you need to earn in Port St. Lucie, FL to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
$73,065
You could earn $1,935 less (3% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Port St. Lucie
Florida
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Austin at $1,729/mo compared to $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie (11% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Austin: the median home is $555,300 versus $369,200 in Port St. Lucie — 34% more expensive.
Metric
Austin
Port St. Lucie
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Port St. Lucie
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Port St. Lucie has cleaner air on average: 47.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Austin if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,729/mo median).
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 47.0).
Port St. Lucie is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 95.7 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 3% lower in Port St. Lucie.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL. Austin, TX has the lower rent by about 11%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $80,648 in Port St. Lucie, FL. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Port St. Lucie, FL has better air quality on average: 47.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $97,421 in Port St. Lucie, FL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
