Median rent is 22% lower in Fort Worth ($1,509/mo vs $1,937/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Worth, where the median home runs $303,000 versus $369,200. Households earn more in Port St. Lucie ($80,648 vs $79,507 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 Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
$70,061
You could earn $4,939 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
Fort Worth
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
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Fort Worth — median rent of $1,509/mo versus $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, a 22% difference. Median home values are within 18% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $369,200 in Port St. Lucie.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fort Worth
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Port St. Lucie
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Port St. Lucie (avg AQI 47.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 95.7 vs 102.5).
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,509/mo median).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than Port St. Lucie?
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.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs Port St. Lucie?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL. Fort Worth, TX has the lower rent by about 22%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or Port St. Lucie?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX 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.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Worth or Port St. Lucie?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Port St. Lucie to match my Fort Worth income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $93,415 in Port St. Lucie, FL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
