Port St Lucie vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Port St Lucie
Wilmington
The Verdict
Port St Lucie is 4.8% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Port St Lucie would need approximately $78,788 in Wilmington 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 Port St Lucie has the same purchasing power as $78,788 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $71,394 in Port St Lucie.
Living in Port St Lucie vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Port St Lucie's housing index of 103 is lower Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $384,000 vs $235,000. The $149,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,684 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Port St Lucie compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Port St Lucie and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Port St Lucie vs $489/month in Wilmington. 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 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Port St Lucie vs $424 in Wilmington. 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 96 in Port St Lucie and 106 in Wilmington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $81,100 in Port St Lucie and $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $81,919 and $44,731 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 $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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