Median rent is 3% lower in Port St. Lucie ($1,937/mo vs $2,007/mo). Buying is cheaper in Port St. Lucie, where the median home runs $369,200 versus $566,900. Households earn more in Jersey City ($97,710 vs $80,648 a year). Taken together, Port St. Lucie is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 95.7 against 112.6 — about 15% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Jersey City, NJ.
Cost of living verdict
Port St. Lucie is 15% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 95.7 in Port St. Lucie vs 112.6 in Jersey City (US national average = 100)
City A
Jersey City, NJ
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 Jersey City, NJ?
Equivalent salary in Port St. Lucie, FL
$63,745
You could earn $11,255 less (15% 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
Jersey City
New Jersey
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 rents are similar in both cities: $2,007/mo in Jersey City and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie. Home buyers face a steeper market in Jersey City: the median home is $566,900 versus $369,200 in Port St. Lucie — 35% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Jersey City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Port St. Lucie
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Jersey City averages 46.0 AQI (Good) and Port St. Lucie averages 47.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Port St. Lucie if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 95.7 vs 112.6).
Pick Jersey City if you prioritize higher median household income ($97,710/yr).
Is Jersey City cheaper than Port St. Lucie?
Port St. Lucie is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 95.7 versus 112.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 15% lower in Port St. Lucie.
How much is rent in Jersey City vs Port St. Lucie?
Median rent is $2,007/mo in Jersey City, NJ and $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL. Port St. Lucie, FL has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — Jersey City or Port St. Lucie?
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City, NJ and $80,648 in Port St. Lucie, FL. Jersey City, NJ 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?
Jersey City, NJ has better air quality on average: 46.0 AQI versus 47.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Jersey City 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 Jersey City income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Jersey City, NJ is equivalent to roughly $84,994 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
