City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Phoenix and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 136 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Phoenix is the easier city on typical rent, but Port St Lucie can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Phoenix at $1,582 average has pockets that run $1,382 and others at $1,982: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Phoenix and Port St Lucie are 1,930 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $355 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, down $684 (1%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 136 points (78%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Phoenix are 1,930 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $355 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $684 (1%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 174 in Phoenix, up 136 points (358%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 18% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Phoenix is 18% 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 $4,260, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Phoenix still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Port St Lucie.
Planning to buy in Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Phoenix's median income is 1% higher than Port St Lucie
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Port St Lucie
$80,648
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $80,648 in Port St Lucie, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Phoenix (about $684 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
78% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 78% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 3% more comfortable than Phoenix
Phoenix
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Phoenix 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 3% 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 Phoenix 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
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix 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 Port St Lucie if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Phoenix on this page's weather index by 3%. Phoenix may pay more or cost less, but Port St Lucie is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 78% lower than Phoenix (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
Safety is the widest gap: Port St Lucie scores 89/100 versus 43/100 in Phoenix. Rent is $1,937/month in Port St Lucie and $1,582/month in Phoenix, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (89/100 in Port St Lucie vs 43/100 in Phoenix), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 81°F in Phoenix and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
Between Phoenix and Port St Lucie, Port St Lucie is ahead on safety — 89/100 safety versus 43/100. Lean Phoenix instead when you already know the Phoenix block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Port St Lucie, plus other cities in AZ and FL.
