City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Chicago and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and St Petersburg. Chicago averages 53°F while St Petersburg averages 77°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,663.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Chicago is the easier city on typical rent, but St Petersburg can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Chicago in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Chicago and St Petersburg are 1,003 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $223 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $2,710 (3%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 165 in St Petersburg, down 2 points (1%).
The move
St Petersburg and Chicago are 1,003 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $223 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $77,902 in Chicago, up $2,710 (4%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 167 in Chicago, up 2 points (1%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Chicago rent is 13% cheaper than St Petersburg
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Chicago is 13% 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 $2,676, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago 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 Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Chicago's median income is 4% higher than St Petersburg
Chicago
Winner$77,902
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Chicago (about $2,710 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
1% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 1% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in St Petersburg. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Petersburg, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°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 52% 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 Chicago 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
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago 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
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 Chicago on this page's weather index by 52%. Chicago 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 1% lower than Chicago (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 $1,440 in Chicago at 53°F. Income runs $75,192 vs $77,902, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $75,192 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg wins on climate (77°F vs 53°F); Chicago is the better fit if $1,440 rent and $77,902 pay matter more than daily weather.
Typical rent stays $1,440 in Chicago and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and St Petersburg, plus other cities in IL and FL.
