City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Baltimore and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where Baltimore and St Petersburg split most clearly. St Petersburg scores 173 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Baltimore at $1,331 average has pockets that run $1,131 and others at $1,731: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Baltimore and St Petersburg are 860 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $332 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $13,015 (21%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 165 in St Petersburg, down 173 points (51%).
The move
St Petersburg and Baltimore are 860 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $332 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $13,015 (17%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 338 in Baltimore, up 173 points (105%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 20% cheaper than St Petersburg
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Baltimore is 20% 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 $3,984, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Baltimore still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in St Petersburg.
Planning to buy in St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 21% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 21% higher in St Petersburg (about $13,015 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, St Petersburg is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
51% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 51% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg scores 39% 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 Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 21% higher ($75,192), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 51% lower than Baltimore (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
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 45/100 in St Petersburg). That 22-point spread matters more than the $332 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Petersburg vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Baltimore deserves a serious look only when you already know the Baltimore block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and St Petersburg, plus other cities in MD and FL.
