Median rent is 24% lower in Jacksonville ($1,465/mo vs $1,937/mo). Buying is cheaper in Jacksonville, where the median home runs $293,700 versus $369,200. Households earn more in Port St. Lucie ($80,648 vs $69,872 a year). Taken together, Port St. Lucie is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 95.7 against 99.6 — 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
Port St. Lucie is 4% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 95.7 in Port St. Lucie vs 99.6 in Jacksonville (US national average = 100)
City A
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville, FL?
Equivalent salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
$72,062
You could earn $2,938 less (4% 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
Jacksonville
Florida
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 Jacksonville — median rent of $1,465/mo versus $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, a 24% difference. Median home values are within 20% of each other: $293,700 in Jacksonville 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.
Jacksonville
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 51.0 AQI (Moderate) 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 99.6).
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,648/yr).
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,465/mo median).
Is Jacksonville cheaper than Port St. Lucie?
Port St. Lucie is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 95.7 versus 99.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 4% lower in Port St. Lucie.
How much is rent in Jacksonville vs Port St. Lucie?
Median rent is $1,465/mo in Jacksonville, FL and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL. Jacksonville, FL has the lower rent by about 24%.
Which has higher salaries — Jacksonville or Port St. Lucie?
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville, FL 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 51.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Jacksonville, FL is equivalent to roughly $96,082 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
