City comparison
No. Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie.
Safety is where Pittsburgh and Port St Lucie split most clearly. Port St Lucie scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,261 in Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Pittsburgh and Port St Lucie are 909 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie, up $676 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $80,648 in Port St Lucie, up $14,906 (23%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 38 in Port St Lucie, down 120 points (76%).
The move
Port St Lucie and Pittsburgh are 909 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,937 a month in Port St Lucie to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $676 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $80,648 in Port St Lucie to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $14,906 (18%).
The crime index goes from 38 in Port St Lucie to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 120 points (316%).
Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh and Port St Lucie? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 35% cheaper than Port St Lucie
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Port St Lucie
$1,937/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,937 in Port St Lucie, so Pittsburgh is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $676/month back in your pocket ($8,112/year). Over five years that's $40,560 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, Pittsburgh 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
23% higher
Port St Lucie's median income is 23% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Port St Lucie
Winner$80,648
Median household income is $80,648 in Port St Lucie versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Port St Lucie (about $14,906 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
76% lower crime
Port St Lucie's crime index is 76% lower than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie
Winner38 (100 = avg)
Port St Lucie's crime index is 38 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 76% 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. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
62% more comfortable
Port St Lucie weather is 62% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Port St Lucie
Winner72°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 99/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Port St Lucie averages about 72°F (76°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°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 62% 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh 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 23% 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 76% lower than Pittsburgh (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 46/100 in Pittsburgh, with typical rent at $1,937 versus $1,261. I would vet the exact ZIP in Pittsburgh before trading 43 safety points for housing savings.
Port St Lucie still pays more locally ($80,648 median income vs $65,742), which can offset the lease if your field pays Port St Lucie rates.
Weather averages land near 51°F in Pittsburgh and 72°F in Port St Lucie.
Pick Port St Lucie when you want the stronger safety signal (89/100). Otherwise, Pittsburgh's case rests on a Pittsburgh ZIP you trust at $1,261 rent.
Common questions
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