City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Seattle and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and St Petersburg is significant: $123,860 median household versus $75,192. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle 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. St Petersburg at $1,663 average has pockets that run $1,463 and others at $2,063: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Seattle and St Petersburg are 2,518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $367 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $48,668 (39%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 165 in St Petersburg, down 87 points (35%).
The move
St Petersburg and Seattle are 2,518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $367 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $123,860 in Seattle, up $48,668 (65%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 252 in Seattle, up 87 points (53%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 18% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $2,030 in Seattle, so St Petersburg 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 $4,404, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Petersburg still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Seattle.
Planning to buy in St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
65% higher
Seattle's median income is 65% higher than St Petersburg
Seattle
Winner$123,860
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Seattle (about $48,668 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, Seattle is the stronger labor market on paper. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 35% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°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 39% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 65% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 35% lower than Seattle (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Seattle at $123,860 median income versus $75,192 in St Petersburg. Housing ($1,663 in St Petersburg, $2,030 in Seattle) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Petersburg vs 32/100 in Seattle), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Pick Seattle when your field pays toward $123,860 median income. Otherwise, St Petersburg's case rests on a $1,663 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and St Petersburg, plus other cities in WA and FL.
