City Comparison

Cleveland vs Port St Lucie

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cleveland

Ohio
87
Below Average
$100,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$32,053
Median Income

Port St Lucie

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

The Verdict

12.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.1%, with Cleveland being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to $85,345 in Port St Lucie.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
59
Cleveland
103
Port St Lucie
Groceries
99
Cleveland
102
Port St Lucie
Utilities
96
Cleveland
93
Port St Lucie
Transportation
101
Cleveland
102
Port St Lucie
Healthcare
96
Cleveland
96
Port St Lucie

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $85,345 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $65,909 in Cleveland.

Living in Cleveland vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Cleveland's housing index of 59 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $384,000. The $284,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $900.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland 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 96 in Cleveland and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland 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 $32,053 in Cleveland and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 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 $748/month to housing in Cleveland vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cleveland is 12.1% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,345 in Port St Lucie, based on the cost of living difference.
Cleveland's housing index is 59 with median homes at $100,000, while Port St Lucie's is 103 with median homes at $384,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases