CostIndexUSA

Sarasota, FL vs St. Petersburg, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent
More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

St. Petersburg is slightly cheaper than Sarasota — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sarasota, you would need $78,800 in St. Petersburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.7%
Sarasota
128
St. Petersburg
125.8
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Sarasota
96.2
St. Petersburg
95.5
🚗 Transportation1.3%
Sarasota
103.8
St. Petersburg
102.4
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
Sarasota
93.9
St. Petersburg
92.7
Utilities≈ Equal
Sarasota
88.2
St. Petersburg
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Petersburg, FL
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in St. Petersburg

Formula: salary × (100.9 ÷ 102.4) = salary × 0.9854. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

St. Petersburg, FL

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

Sarasota has 1.7% lower housing costs compared to St. Petersburg.

Income & Job Market

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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).

Sarasota, FL
3.4×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.