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	93	123	116	129	100
Housing	74	151	131	168	100
Trans- portation	111	109	110	110	100
Utilities	97	97	100	106	100
Food	101	108	108	106	100
Environment
Air Quality (100=best)	45	11	8	5	48
Watershed Quality (100=best)	54	30	50	50	55

*Source: Sperlings City Profiles, 2007

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%.

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