City Comparison

Newark vs Port St Lucie

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Newark

New Jersey
121
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$40,014
Median Income

Port St Lucie

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

The Verdict

22.2%

Living in Port St Lucie costs 22.2% less than Newark. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Newark, you would need $61,364 in Port St Lucie.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
149
Newark
103
Port St Lucie
Groceries
103
Newark
102
Port St Lucie
Utilities
118
Newark
93
Port St Lucie
Transportation
115
Newark
102
Port St Lucie
Healthcare
105
Newark
96
Port St Lucie

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Newark has the same purchasing power as $61,364 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $91,667 in Newark.

Living in Newark vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Newark's housing index of 149 is higher Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $384,000. The $44,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Newark compared to $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Newark and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Newark 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 118 in Newark and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $472 in Newark 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 105 in Newark and 96 in Port St Lucie. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $40,014 in Newark and $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,069 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 $934/month to housing in Newark vs $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Newark, median rent of $1,400/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 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Port St Lucie is 22.2% more affordable overall with an index of 99 vs 121.
A $75,000 salary in Newark has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $61,364 in Port St Lucie, based on the cost of living difference.
Newark's housing index is 149 with median homes at $340,000, while Port St Lucie's is 103 with median homes at $384,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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