City Comparison

Port St Lucie vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Port St Lucie

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

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

10.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.0%, with St Cloud being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Port St Lucie has equivalent purchasing power to $68,182 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
103
Port St Lucie
82
St Cloud
Groceries
102
Port St Lucie
101
St Cloud
Utilities
93
Port St Lucie
95
St Cloud
Transportation
102
Port St Lucie
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
96
Port St Lucie
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Port St Lucie has the same purchasing power as $68,182 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $82,500 in Port St Lucie.

Living in Port St Lucie vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Port St Lucie's housing index of 103 is higher St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $384,000 vs $250,000. The $134,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,712 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Port St Lucie and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Port St Lucie vs $480/month in St Cloud. 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 93 in Port St Lucie and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Port St Lucie vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Port St Lucie and 100 in St Cloud. 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 $81,100 in Port St Lucie and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $81,919 and $66,889 respectively. Port St Lucie residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,892/month to housing in Port St Lucie vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo fits within this budget. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 10.0% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Port St Lucie has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,182 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Port St Lucie's housing index is 103 with median homes at $384,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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