City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Atlanta and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Atlanta and St Petersburg are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,663 in St Petersburg, and median household income lands at $85,652 versus $75,192. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
St Petersburg is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone St Petersburg is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Atlanta and St Petersburg are 416 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $10,460 (12%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 165 in St Petersburg, down 32 points (16%).
The move
St Petersburg and Atlanta are 416 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $10,460 (14%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 197 in Atlanta, up 32 points (19%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 3% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so St Petersburg is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $48, or $576 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Atlanta's median income is 14% higher than St Petersburg
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Atlanta (about $10,460 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 16% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in St Petersburg. 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, St Petersburg 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
12% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Atlanta (165 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,663/month rent in St Petersburg at 77°F versus $1,711 in Atlanta at 61°F. Income runs $75,192 vs $85,652, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
St Petersburg rent at $1,663/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $75,192 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg wins on climate (77°F vs 61°F); Atlanta is the better fit if $1,711 rent and $85,652 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and St Petersburg, plus other cities in GA and FL.
