City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 223 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Philadelphia at $1,397 average has pockets that run $1,197 and others at $1,797: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Port St Lucie are 924 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $540 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $18,695 (30%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 223 points (85%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Philadelphia are 924 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $540 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $18,695 (23%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 261 in Philadelphia, up 223 points (587%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 28% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Philadelphia is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $540/month back in your pocket ($6,480/year). Over five years that's $32,400 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 Port St Lucie, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Philadelphia is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 30% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Port St Lucie (about $18,695 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
85% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 85% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 85% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 45% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. 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 45% 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 30% 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 85% lower than Philadelphia (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Port St Lucie leads on safety (89/100 vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,937 in Port St Lucie and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $61,953), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Port St Lucie; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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