Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 16 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
2% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
26% less violent crime than Orlando
Homes cost $44k less ($289,000 vs $332,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $99/mo less ($1,410 vs $1,509)
Households earn $4,041 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Orlando
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$4,041
$70,333 vs $66,292/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
26% lower
619.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$44k less
$289,000 vs $332,700
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 16 of 22 categories. Orlando wins 6 and St. Petersburg wins 16. 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 Orlando to St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $289,000 median home), income ($66,292 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and St. Petersburg, FL are about 96 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.