Fort Lauderdale vs Port St Lucie

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $60,861 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $92,424 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $384,000. The $4,000 difference in home prices means roughly $264 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Fort Lauderdale vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fort Lauderdale 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 $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 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 $1,271/month to housing in Fort Lauderdale vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/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 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases