Median rent is 8% lower in Sacramento ($1,779/mo vs $1,937/mo). Buying is cheaper in Port St. Lucie, where the median home runs $369,200 versus $506,300. Households earn more in Sacramento ($87,321 vs $80,648 a year). Taken together, Port St. Lucie is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 95.7 against 109.1 — about 12% 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 12% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 95.7 in Port St. Lucie vs 109.1 in Sacramento (US national average = 100)
City A
Port St. Lucie, FL
City B
Sacramento, CA
How much would you need to earn in Sacramento, CA to maintain your standard of living from Port St. Lucie, FL?
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$85,458
You'd need $10,458 more (14% 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
Port St. Lucie
Florida
Sacramento
California
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 rent is modestly lower in Sacramento at $1,779/mo compared to $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie (8% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Sacramento: the median home is $506,300 versus $369,200 in Port St. Lucie — 27% 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.
Port St. Lucie
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Sacramento
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Port St. Lucie has cleaner air on average: 47.0 AQI (Good) compared to 52.0 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 109.1).
Pick Sacramento if you prioritize higher median household income ($87,321/yr).
Is Port St. Lucie cheaper than Sacramento?
Port St. Lucie is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 95.7 versus 109.1 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 12% lower in Port St. Lucie.
How much is rent in Port St. Lucie vs Sacramento?
Median rent is $1,937/mo in Port St. Lucie, FL and $1,779/mo in Sacramento, CA. Sacramento, CA has the lower rent by about 8%.
Which has higher salaries — Port St. Lucie or Sacramento?
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St. Lucie, FL and $87,321 in Sacramento, CA. Sacramento, CA 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 52.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Port St. Lucie or Sacramento?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Sacramento to match my Port St. Lucie income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Port St. Lucie, FL is equivalent to roughly $113,944 in Sacramento, CA (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
