CostIndexUSA

St. Petersburg, FL vs Washington, DC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent
DC
Washington
108.9
overall index
$2,325/mo rent

St. Petersburg is moderately cheaper than Washington — 7.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Petersburg, you would need $86,300 in Washington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.1%
St. Petersburg
125.8
Washington
151.1
🛒 Groceries+9.7%
St. Petersburg
95.5
Washington
104.8
🚗 Transportation+4.9%
St. Petersburg
102.4
Washington
107.4
🏥 Healthcare+4.9%
St. Petersburg
92.7
Washington
97.2
Utilities+20.6%
St. Petersburg
88.5
Washington
106.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Washington, DC
$86,300
$6,300 more needed in Washington

Formula: salary × (108.9 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0793. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Petersburg, FL

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

Washington, DC

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,325
Housing Index
151.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

Washington has 20.1% higher housing costs compared to St. Petersburg.

Income & Job Market

St. Petersburg, FL

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

Washington, DC

Median Household Income
$121,500
Per Capita Income
$69,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
689,545
Top Industries
GovernmentFinanceTechnologyHealthcareDefense

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

67% of income left after rent (median)

Washington, DC
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.