Cost of Living

Compared to St. Lucie County's neighboring counties, St. Lucie County represents the piece of South Florida that is still considered affordable. St. Lucie County is endowed with the rich quality of life South Florida has to offer, while maintaining a Cost of Living that is still quite reasonable.

Cost of Living Comparison (Southeast, Florida)

	St. Lucie County	Palm Beach County	Broward County	Miami Dade County	U.S. Average
Cost of Living
Overall	160	85	114	97	100
Housing	81	56	134	84	100
Trans- portation	104	111	107	108	100
Utilities	98	88	94	91	100
Food	101	101	108	109	100
Environment
Air Quality (100=best)	92.6	92	78.5	50	82.8
Watershed Quality (100=best)	55	30	50	50	55

*Source: Sperlings City Profiles, 08/27/2010

Taxes

The State of Florida has no personal income tax, no inventory tax and no tax on subchapter S corporations. Corporate tax is 5.5%. Florida has total per capita taxes of $1,905 ranking 37th out of the 50 states, with a tax burden 87% of the national average.  Taxes in unincorporated St. Lucie County are approximately $20 per thousand in assessed value, in the City of Port St. Lucie approximately $23 per $1,000 in assessed value and in the City of Fort Pierce approximately $25 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Sales tax is 6.5%.