City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 140 in Miami, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Miami is cheaper. Median rent is $1,758 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Miami and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 102 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,758 in Miami and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Port St Lucie is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Miami makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Port St Lucie is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Port St Lucie has rougher pockets and Miami has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Miami and Port St Lucie are 105 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,758 a month in Miami to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $179 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $62,462 in Miami to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $18,186 (29%).
The crime index goes from 140 in Miami to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 102 points (73%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Miami are 105 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,758 a month in Miami, down $179 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $62,462 in Miami, down $18,186 (23%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 140 in Miami, up 102 points (268%).
Miami, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Port St Lucie, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Miami and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Miami rent is 9% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Miami
Winner$1,758/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,758 a month in Miami versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Miami is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $179, or $2,148 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 Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 29% higher than Miami
Miami
$62,462
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $62,462 in Miami, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Port St Lucie (about $18,186 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, Port St Lucie is the stronger labor market on paper. Miami can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 73% lower than Miami
Miami
140 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 140 in Miami (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% lower in Port St Lucie. 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, Port St Lucie is the easier city. Miami can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 6% more comfortable than Miami
Miami
81°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 94/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Miami averages about 81°F (83°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Miami averages around 81°F. Port St Lucie sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Port St Lucie scores 6% 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 Miami 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 Miami
Miami is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,758 a month. Choose Miami 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 29% higher ($80,648), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Port St Lucie is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Miami (38 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Port St Lucie: Port St Lucie scores 89/100 versus 50/100 in Miami, with typical rent at $1,937 versus $1,758. I would vet the exact ZIP in Miami before trading 39 safety points for housing savings.
Miami rent at $1,758/month is still below Port St Lucie's $1,937, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 81°F in Miami and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
If safety drives your move, Port St Lucie is the stronger match (89/100 safety versus 50/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Miami, treat $1,758/month rent and $62,462 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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