Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 17 of 22 categories
Miami
Florida
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
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.
Miami, FL
Pros
24% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $15,475/yr
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($289,000 vs $433,900)
Households earn $15,475 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,410 vs $1,494)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami
Violent Crime
24% lower
473.3 vs 619.6 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$15,475
$70,333 vs $54,858/yr
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$145k less
$289,000 vs $433,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 69.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 17 of 22 categories. Miami wins 5 and St. Petersburg wins 17. 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 Miami to St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $289,000 median home), income ($54,858 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and St. Petersburg, FL are about 204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.