Moving to Port St. Lucie from Missouri: A 2026 Relocation Guide
Quick answer: About 12,000 Missourians move to Florida every year from St. Louis, Kansas City and everywhere between. The trade: leave the state income tax (about 4.7%, plus the 1% earnings tax if you work in St. Louis or KC) and Midwest winters for zero income tax and the Atlantic 20 minutes away. The honest note: homes cost more here. St. Louis metro runs about $250,000 versus roughly $400,000 in Port St. Lucie. Southwest has flown St. Louis to Palm Beach seasonally.
Show-Me staters want the real numbers before they move, so here they are, for 2026.
The move at a glance
| Movers | About 12,000 to 13,000 Missourians move to Florida each year (U.S. Census) |
|---|---|
| Income tax | MO: ~4.7% (phasing down), plus 1% earnings tax in St. Louis and KC | Florida: none |
| Home prices | St. Louis metro about $250K, Kansas City about $299K | Port St. Lucie roughly $380K to $400K |
| Winter | Trade ice storms and gray Januaries for 70s and sunshine |
| Flights home | Southwest has flown STL to PBI seasonally; Orlando (2 hours) has year-round Missouri routes |
Budget honestly: the house costs more
Missouri is one of the country's most affordable states, so plan for the Florida home to cost $100,000 to $150,000 more than the one you're leaving, plus higher insurance (hurricane country; quote it before you offer). The other side of the ledger: no state income tax, no city earnings tax, no winter costs, and once you homestead, up to $50,000 off assessed value with a 3% yearly cap on increases.
Lake of the Ozarks people: this is your upgrade
If your family does summers at the Lake, you already live for the water. Here the season never ends, the dock never ices, and the fish include snook, tarpon and sailfish. The St. Lucie River is the calm water; the inlet at Stuart opens to the Atlantic. Cardinals fans note: spring training is right across the state in Jupiter, 30 minutes south.
The snowbird path
Plenty of Missouri families buy the Florida place first, winter here, and homestead at retirement to capture the tax benefits. If that's the plan, choose a low-maintenance home in a gated community that's easy to lock and leave all summer.
Where Missouri buyers land
Value-focused buyers like Port St. Lucie's newer neighborhoods and PGA Village Verano; the 55+ communities are Midwest-heavy and social; golfers should read the golf communities guide. Start with the Port St. Lucie guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Florida affordable on a Missouri budget?
The house and insurance cost more; the taxes and winters cost less. Most retirees selling a paid-off Missouri home plus savings make it work comfortably. The key is planning the insurance line honestly from day one.
Do I escape the St. Louis or KC earnings tax by moving?
Yes. The 1% city earnings tax applies to work performed there. Florida has no state or city income tax at all.
How do I get back to Missouri?
Southwest has flown STL to PBI seasonally, Orlando has year-round St. Louis and Kansas City routes two hours away, and the drive is roughly 17 to 18 hours.
Where do Cardinals fans watch spring training?
Thirty minutes south. The Cardinals share Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter with the Marlins, and the Mets train right here in Port St. Lucie.
Talk with William. William helps out-of-state buyers plan the move, tour neighborhoods by video, and buy with confidence from a distance. Call or text (772) 800-2274 or send a message.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Tax rules, prices and flight schedules change; confirm current details with a tax professional and the airlines. William Merchant, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.
