CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
FL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

Palm Bay is slightly cheaper than St. Petersburg — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $80,700 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+12.6%
Palm Bay
111.7
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Palm Bay
96.2
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Palm Bay
103.8
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
Palm Bay
93.9
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities≈ Equal
Palm Bay
88.1
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Palm Bay to see what you'd need to earn in St. Petersburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$80,700
$700 more needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 100) = salary × 1.0090. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

St. Petersburg has 12.6% higher housing costs compared to Palm Bay.

Income & Job Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.