City Comparison

Memphis vs Port St Lucie

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Memphis

Tennessee
84
Very Affordable
$155,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$41,228
Median Income

Port St Lucie

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

The Verdict

15.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 15.2%, with Memphis being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Memphis has equivalent purchasing power to $88,393 in Port St Lucie.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
63
Memphis
103
Port St Lucie
Groceries
93
Memphis
102
Port St Lucie
Utilities
88
Memphis
93
Port St Lucie
Transportation
98
Memphis
102
Port St Lucie
Healthcare
92
Memphis
96
Port St Lucie

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Memphis has the same purchasing power as $88,393 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $63,636 in Memphis.

Living in Memphis vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Memphis's housing index of 63 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $384,000. The $229,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,880 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Memphis compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 93 in Memphis and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in Memphis vs $485/month in Port St Lucie. Memphis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 88 in Memphis and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Memphis vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Memphis 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 $41,228 in Memphis and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,081 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 $962/month to housing in Memphis vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Memphis, median rent of $1,000/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 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Memphis is 15.2% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Memphis has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,393 in Port St Lucie, based on the cost of living difference.
Memphis's housing index is 63 with median homes at $155,000, while Port St Lucie's is 103 with median homes at $384,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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