Median rent is 26% lower in Chicago ($1,440/mo vs $1,937/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $334,100 versus $369,200. Households earn more in Port St. Lucie ($80,648 vs $77,902 a year). Taken together, Port St. Lucie is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 95.7 against 102.5 — about 7% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Port St. Lucie, FL.
Cost of living verdict
Port St. Lucie is 7% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 95.7 in Port St. Lucie vs 102.5 in Chicago (US national average = 100)
City A
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago, IL?
Equivalent salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
$70,064
You could earn $4,936 less (7% 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
Chicago
Illinois
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Chicago — median rent of $1,440/mo versus $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, a 26% difference. Median home values are within 10% of each other: $334,100 in Chicago and $369,200 in Port St. Lucie.
Metric
Chicago
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.
Chicago
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Port St. Lucie
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 95.7 vs 102.5).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,440/mo median).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
Port St. Lucie is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 95.7 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 7% lower in Port St. Lucie.
Median rent is $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 26%.
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago, IL and $80,648 in Port St. Lucie, FL. Port St. Lucie, FL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 47.0 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 Chicago, IL is equivalent to roughly $93,419 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
