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Port St. Lucie, FL

Stretch

The cost of living in Port St. Lucie, FL is 12% above the national average (Cost Index: 112). Homes here are typically valued around $381,910, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $78,137 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Port St. Lucie sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Port St. Lucie.

Monthly Housing
$1,781/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
27%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,230/mo
After housing and debt · $1,410/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 35%
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Cost Index
112
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$381,910
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $327,700
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,781/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$78,137
National: $78,538
Population
220,453
Purchasing Power
89
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
126 / 100
26% above average
Rent Index
132 / 100
32% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
87 / 100
13% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
112
Expensive · 12% above average

Port St. Lucie Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $381,910 and Florida's property tax rate of 0.86%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$78,137
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
27%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.9x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Port St. Lucie looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Port St. Lucie, FL

Est. Annual Property Tax
$3,284
Monthly Impact
$274
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.86%
National avg: ~1.00%

Florida Place Tax Context

Tax TypeFloridaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.86%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.01%~5.0%

Compare Port St. Lucie to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Port St. Lucie, FL
112
132
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Port St. Lucie, FL: 126
Rent Prices
132

FAQ: Living in Port St. Lucie

Is Port St. Lucie, FL an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Port St. Lucie is about 12% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 112. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $381,910, and monthly rents average roughly $1,781. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Port St. Lucie fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,781, while local median household income is $78,137. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 27% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Port St. Lucie, FL?+

Florida is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.86%. On a home worth $381,910, that translates to roughly $3,284 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.01% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Port St. Lucie, FL?+

The typical monthly rent in Port St. Lucie is around $1,781. That's about 32% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $381,910, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Port St. Lucie, FL?+

The median home in Port St. Lucie is valued at $381,910. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,931/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 83% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Port St. Lucie?+

Grocery prices in Port St. Lucie are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 87). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Port St. Lucie, FL like to live in?+

Port St. Lucie is a mid-sized city with a population of about 220,453. The median age of residents is 43.7, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 8.51%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Florida

If Port St. Lucie feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Florida

Use these city pages when you want to compare Port St. Lucie against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly