Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
13% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,410)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $16k less ($289,000 vs $304,500)
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$1,340
$71,673 vs $70,333/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
13% lower
539.8 vs 619.6 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$16k less
$289,000 vs $304,500
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and St. Petersburg wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chicago to St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $289,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,013 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.