City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Philadelphia and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Philadelphia and St Petersburg. Philadelphia averages 54°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 $1,397 versus $1,663.
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. Philadelphia 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. 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 St Petersburg are 937 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $266 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $13,239 (21%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 165 in St Petersburg, down 96 points (37%).
The move
St Petersburg and Philadelphia are 937 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $266 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $13,239 (18%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 261 in Philadelphia, up 96 points (58%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 16% cheaper than St Petersburg
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Philadelphia is 16% 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 $3,192, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 21% higher in St Petersburg (about $13,239 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. 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
37% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 37% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 45% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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 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 16% 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 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 37% lower than Philadelphia (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
Crime and safety tilt toward St Petersburg: St Petersburg scores 45/100 versus 31/100 in Philadelphia, with typical rent at $1,663 versus $1,397. I would vet the exact ZIP in Philadelphia before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Petersburg vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
St Petersburg clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Philadelphia deserves a serious look only when you already know the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia and St Petersburg, plus other cities in PA and FL.
