Cost of Living in Port St. Lucie, FL
Port St. Lucie, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Port St. Lucie, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Port St. Lucie, FL?
With a price level of 100.2 (U.S. average = 100), Port St. Lucie, FL is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 14% above average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 13% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Port St. Lucie, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.2 | +0.2% |
| Housing | 113.6 | +13.6% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 87.0 | −13.0% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Port St. Lucie, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,455 | $58,200/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,467 | $58,680/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,757 | $70,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,421 | $96,840/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,579 | $103,160/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Port St. Lucie, FL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Port St. Lucie, FL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,100 | $34,400 |
| $60,000 | $60,100 | $50,470 |
| $80,000 | $80,200 | $65,251 |
| $100,000 | $100,200 | $79,321 |
| $150,000 | $150,300 | $113,996 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Florida 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Port St. Lucie, FL's median wage of $46,490 takes home about $3,295 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,467, which is 45% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,828 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Port St. Lucie, FL
- Federal income tax$3,399
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,882
- Medicare (1.45%)$674
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,535
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Port St. Lucie, FL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $94,910 | $75,599 | $75,427 |
| Registered Nurse | $82,090 | $66,580 | $66,429 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,280 | $37,759 | $37,673 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,380 | $33,018 | $32,943 |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,690 | $32,464 | $32,390 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,670 | $31,644 | $31,572 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,250 | $31,307 | $31,236 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,660 | $30,833 | $30,763 |
| Retail Salesperson | $34,020 | $29,515 | $29,448 |
| Cashier | $30,540 | $26,719 | $26,658 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,130 | $25,586 | $25,528 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Florida cities
Half of Florida’s 9,929,860 workers earn less than $47,880 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,290–$75,410 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tallahassee, FL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Miami, FL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $48,640 | 114.2 | $1,942 | 56% | $1,497 | $36,146 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,940 | 100.9 | $1,696 | 49% | $1,763 | $41,137 |
| Orlando, FL | $46,630 | 101.4 | $1,731 | 52% | $1,573 | $39,093 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,830 | 99.5 | $1,374 | 40% | $2,077 | $41,630 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 102.4 | $1,686 | 50% | $1,672 | $39,347 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $46,780 | 102.3 | $1,638 | 49% | $1,676 | $38,855 |
| Lakeland, FL | $46,140 | 97.1 | $1,230 | 38% | $2,041 | $40,409 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $49,030 | 100.0 | $1,478 | 43% | $1,987 | $41,574 |
| Deltona, FL | $44,940 | 99.4 | $1,393 | 44% | $1,798 | $38,533 |
| Pensacola, FL | $46,240 | 97.7 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,021 | $40,253 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $46,520 | 93.9 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,104 | $42,120 |
| Naples, FL | $47,800 | 103.2 | $1,797 | 53% | $1,585 | $39,329 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,490 | 100.2 | $1,467 | 45% | $1,828 | $39,445 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,020 | 96.7 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,137 | $41,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $47,510 | 97.0 | $1,492 | 44% | $1,871 | $41,589 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Port St. Lucie, FL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 100.2 | $1,467 | $46,490 | 170,820 |
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | $1,123 | $45,130 | 171,140 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 101.1 | $1,537 | $55,310 | 169,430 |
| Mobile, AL | 88.1 | $919 | $47,000 | 172,550 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 98.9 | $1,493 | $47,520 | 168,700 |
| Green Bay, WI | 93.1 | $915 | $49,940 | 174,550 |
| Reading, PA | 97.1 | $1,237 | $49,440 | 174,670 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Port St. Lucie, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Port St. Lucie, FL metro area are 100.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 113.6%. It is the #85 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Port St. Lucie, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,137 in Port St. Lucie, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,490.
Can you afford Port St. Lucie, FL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,490 median wage takes home about $3,295 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,467 would take 45% of that.
How much is rent in Port St. Lucie, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Port St. Lucie, FL are $1,455 for a studio, $1,467 for one bedroom, $1,757 for two bedrooms and $2,421 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Port St. Lucie, FL
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $94,910
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $82,090
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,690
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,130
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $34,020
- Cashier — $30,540
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $44,280
- Customer Service Representative — $38,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,670
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,660