Dayton vs Port St Lucie
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dayton
Port St Lucie
The Verdict
Dayton is 19.2% less expensive than Port St Lucie overall. A household earning $75,000 in Dayton would need approximately $92,813 in Port St Lucie to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Dayton has the same purchasing power as $92,813 in Port St Lucie.
Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $60,606 in Dayton.
Living in Dayton vs Port St Lucie
Housing Costs
Dayton's housing index of 46 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $384,000. The $249,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,188 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Dayton compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $900.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Dayton and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Dayton 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 109 in Dayton and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Dayton vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 114 in Dayton and 96 in Port St Lucie. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,500 in Dayton and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 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 $1,015/month to housing in Dayton vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Dayton, median rent of $900/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 57 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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