City comparison
Port St Lucie is safer than Atlanta. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Atlanta and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 159 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
This is a genuine split. Atlanta wins on cost of living and the job market and Port St Lucie wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Port St Lucie has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Port St Lucie are 506 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $226 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, down $5,004 (6%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 159 points (81%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Atlanta are 506 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $226 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $5,004 (6%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 197 in Atlanta, up 159 points (418%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Port St Lucie, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 12% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Atlanta is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,712, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Atlanta still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Port St Lucie.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Atlanta's median income is 6% higher than Port St Lucie
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Port St Lucie
$80,648
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Atlanta (about $5,004 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
81% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 81% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 81% lower in Port St Lucie. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Port St Lucie is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Atlanta and Port St Lucie are about even on typical weather.
Atlanta
66°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Port St Lucie
75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 66°F (76°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 75°F (80°F highs). Atlanta sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Port St Lucie sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Port St Lucie is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 81% lower than Atlanta (38 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Atlanta carries the heavier crime signal on this page (39/100 safety vs 89/100 in Port St Lucie). That 50-point spread matters more than the $226 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (89/100 in Port St Lucie vs 39/100 in Atlanta), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie.
If safety drives your move, Port St Lucie is the stronger match (89/100 safety versus 39/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Atlanta, treat $1,711/month rent and $85,652 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Port St Lucie, plus other cities in GA and FL.
