Median rent is 27% lower in Fresno ($1,421/mo vs $1,937/mo). Buying is cheaper in Port St. Lucie, where the median home runs $369,200 versus $374,800. Households earn more in Port St. Lucie ($80,648 vs $70,991 a year). Taken together, Fresno is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 91.9 against 95.7 — about 4% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Port St. Lucie, FL.
Cost of living verdict
Fresno is 4% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 91.9 in Fresno vs 95.7 in Port St. Lucie (US national average = 100)
City A
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno, CA?
Equivalent salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
$78,174
You'd need $3,174 more (4% higher).
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
Fresno
California
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 Fresno — median rent of $1,421/mo versus $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, a 27% difference. Median home values are within 1% of each other: $374,800 in Fresno 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.
Fresno
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 53.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Fresno if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 91.9 vs 95.7).
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,648/yr).
Pick Fresno if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,421/mo median).
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 47.0).
Is Fresno cheaper than Port St. Lucie?
Fresno is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.9 versus 95.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 4% lower in Fresno.
How much is rent in Fresno vs Port St. Lucie?
Median rent is $1,421/mo in Fresno, CA and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL. Fresno, CA has the lower rent by about 27%.
Which has higher salaries — Fresno or Port St. Lucie?
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno, CA 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?
Port St. Lucie, FL has better air quality on average: 47.0 AQI versus 53.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Fresno 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 Fresno income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fresno, CA is equivalent to roughly $104,232 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
