City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Austin and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and St Petersburg is significant: $93,658 median household versus $75,192. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and safety and St Petersburg wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Austin and St Petersburg are 923 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $66 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $18,466 (20%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 165 in St Petersburg, up 3 points (2%).
The move
St Petersburg and Austin are 923 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $66 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $93,658 in Austin, up $18,466 (25%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 162 in Austin, down 3 points (2%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 4% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,729 in Austin, so St Petersburg is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $66, or $792 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Austin's median income is 25% higher than St Petersburg
Austin
Winner$93,658
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Austin (about $18,466 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, Austin 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
2% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 2% lower than St Petersburg
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Austin. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Austin, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Petersburg. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than St Petersburg (162 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Petersburg
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Austin at $93,658 median income versus $75,192 in St Petersburg. Housing ($1,663 in St Petersburg, $1,729 in Austin) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $66 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Austin clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. St Petersburg deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,663/month beats chasing $93,658 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and St Petersburg, plus other cities in TX and FL.
