City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for El Paso and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where El Paso and St Petersburg split most clearly. El Paso scores 78 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and St Petersburg wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and St Petersburg are 1,448 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $590 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $15,447 (26%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 165 in St Petersburg, up 78 points (90%).
The move
St Petersburg and El Paso are 1,448 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $590 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $59,745 in El Paso, down $15,447 (21%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 87 in El Paso, down 78 points (47%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
El Paso rent is 35% cheaper than St Petersburg
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so El Paso is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $590/month back in your pocket ($7,080/year). Over five years that's $35,400 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in St Petersburg, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 26% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 26% higher in St Petersburg (about $15,447 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 47% lower than St Petersburg
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than St Petersburg (87 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Petersburg is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($75,192). Start with St Petersburg if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but El Paso leads on safety (64/100 vs 45/100 in St Petersburg). Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,663 in St Petersburg; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
St Petersburg still pays more locally ($75,192 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Petersburg rates.
Median income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 45/100); St Petersburg is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,663/month rent plus $75,192 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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