City Comparison

Athens vs Port St Lucie

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Athens

Georgia
88
Below Average
$307,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,700
Median Income

Port St Lucie

Florida
99
Average
$384,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$81,100
Median Income

The Verdict

11.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.1%, with Athens being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Athens has equivalent purchasing power to $84,375 in Port St Lucie.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
78
Athens
103
Port St Lucie
Groceries
101
Athens
102
Port St Lucie
Utilities
101
Athens
93
Port St Lucie
Transportation
96
Athens
102
Port St Lucie
Healthcare
97
Athens
96
Port St Lucie

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Athens has the same purchasing power as $84,375 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $66,667 in Athens.

Living in Athens vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Athens's housing index of 78 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $307,000 vs $384,000. The $77,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,004 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Athens compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Athens and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Athens vs $485/month in Port St Lucie. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Athens and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Athens vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Athens and 96 in Port St Lucie. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,700 in Athens and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,432 and $81,919 respectively. Port St Lucie residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,323/month to housing in Athens vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Athens, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Athens is 11.1% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Athens has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,375 in Port St Lucie, based on the cost of living difference.
Athens's housing index is 78 with median homes at $307,000, while Port St Lucie's is 103 with median homes at $384,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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