If you’re living in the Sunshine State, why not fully commit to sunny days? After all, the Sunshine State meets its match with a Sunshine City: St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg takes its “Sunshine City” nickname seriously. The city logged 768 consecutive days of sunshine, stretching from February 1967 to March 1969; a run impressive enough to land on the Guinness World Records. Fortunately, you don’t need record-breaking days to appreciate St. Pete. Between arts districts, waterfront parks, oak-shaded residential streets, and neighborhoods that put you close to the Gulf beaches, renters have plenty of ways to build a Florida lifestyle around what matters most to them.
If you’re looking to rent an apartment in St. Petersburg, we narrowed the search. If you’re apartment hunting, you have plenty of places to start. We compared:
-
Rental availability
-
Average rent relative to other neighborhoods in the city
-
Proximity to points of interest like work hubs, universities, downtown areas, shopping centers, or major parks
-
Niche.com’s neighborhood report cards
The five best neighborhoods in St. Petersburg for renters are:
Central Oak Park
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in St. Petersburg: $1,832/month
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in Central Oak Park: $1,337/month
-
Average 1-bedroom square footage: 640 square feet
Why Central Oak Park is good for renters
Central Oak Park gives renters a central location without downtown rent. Its streets mix apartments and older homes with mature oaks and pockets of historic brick, while Central Avenue and 34th Street put restaurants, shops, and everyday errands nearby. Pinellas Trail begins just a few blocks away, adding a useful recreational connection for biking, running, or walking. With an average one-bedroom roughly $490 below the city average, it’s also one of the most affordable picks on this list.
Moderately Walkable |
Some Public Transit |
Moderately Drivable |
Fairly Bikeable |
60Central Oak Park has a walkability score of 60 out of 100. |
50Central Oak Park has a transit score of 50 out of 100. |
60Central Oak Park has a drivability score of 60 out of 100. |
40Central Oak Park has a bikeability score of 40 out of 100. |
Keep in mind
Central Oak Park is convenient, but its amenities are spread across several corridors rather than concentrated around a single walkable center.
Old Southeast
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in St. Petersburg: $1,832/month
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in Old Southeast: $1,078/month
-
Average 1-bedroom square footage: 392 square feet
Why Old Southeast is good for renters
Old Southeast feels tucked away along Tampa Bay while sitting close to downtown St. Pete. Lassing Park anchors its waterfront with 14.2 acres of open space. Look down while exploring, and you may also spot the neighborhood’s distinctive historic hexagon-block sidewalks. Alternatively, look up for the flock of wild green parrots that have become part of the local identity. With a $1,077 average one-bedroom rent, Old Southeast is comfortably below the St. Petersburg average.
Fairly Walkable |
Limited Public Transit |
Exceptionally Drivable |
Moderately Bikeable |
50Old Southeast has a walkability score of 50 out of 100. |
30Old Southeast has a transit score of 30 out of 100. |
90Old Southeast has a drivability score of 90 out of 100. |
60Old Southeast has a bikeability score of 60 out of 100. |
Keep in mind
One-bedrooms in Old Southeast are the smallest typical floor plan among these five neighborhoods. Also, the flocks of wild green parakeets and parrots are famously noisy.
Snell Isle
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in St. Petersburg: $1,832/month
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in Snell Isle: $1,849/month
-
Average 1-bedroom square footage: 688 square feet
Why Snell Isle is good for renters
Snell Isle brings an entirely different flavor to St. Petersburg. It has winding waterfront streets, Mediterranean-inspired architecture, and the Vinoy Golf Club at its center. Its backstory is equally distinctive: developer C. Perry Snell transformed what had largely been mangroves and marshland into a planned community during Florida’s 1920s land boom. Average one-bedroom rent sits close to the St. Petersburg average, making this an option for renters drawn to a quieter waterfront setting without moving far from downtown.
Fairly Walkable |
Limited Public Transit |
Exceptionally Drivable |
Moderately Bikeable |
40Snell Isle has a walkability score of 40 out of 100. |
20Snell Isle has a transit score of 20 out of 100. |
90Snell Isle has a drivability score of 90 out of 100. |
60Snell Isle has a bikeability score of 60 out of 100. |
Keep in mind
Snell Isle is the most expensive neighborhood on this list. Its waterfront setting also makes checking the flood zone and storm history of a specific rental especially worthwhile.
Allendale
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in St. Petersburg: $1,832/month
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in Allendale: $1,570/month
-
Average 1-bedroom square footage: 777 square feet
Why Allendale is good for renters
Allendale offers more of an old-school residential feel. Renters also get notably more elbow room in Allendale: its average one-bedroom measures 777 square feet, the largest among these five picks. Fourth Street’s restaurants, groceries, and other conveniences sit along the neighborhood’s eastern side, while downtown is only a short drive south.
Moderately Walkable |
Some Public Transit |
Very Drivable |
Fairly Bikeable |
60Allendale has a walkability score of 60 out of 100.
|
40Allendale has a transit score of 40 out of 100.
|
80Allendale has a drivability score of 80 out of 100.
|
50Allendale has a bikeability score of 50 out of 100.
|
Keep in mind
Allendale itself is primarily residential, so the neighborhood is very quiet. That’s great for a tranquil home base, but renters wanting nightlife immediately downstairs may find other parts of St. Petersburg more convenient.
Crescent Lake
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in St. Petersburg: $1,832/month
-
Average 1-bedroom rent in Crescent Lake: $1,263/month
-
Average 1-bedroom square footage: 508 square feet
Why Crescent Lake is good for renters
Crescent Lake is built around its namesake park. The park includes a lake loop, recreation facilities, and historic Huggins-Stengel Field, which has ties to St. Petersburg’s long history as a Major League Baseball spring-training town. Then there’s the wonderfully odd landmark nearby: a 1920s water tower painted to resemble a giant saltwater aquarium. Add in proximity to Fourth Street and an average one-bedroom rent well below the city figure, and Crescent Lake balances location, character, and price particularly well.
Moderately Walkable |
Some Public Transit |
Moderately Drivable |
Moderately Bikeable |
70Crescent Lake has a walkability score of 70 out of 100. |
50Crescent Lake has a transit score of 50 out of 100. |
70Crescent Lake has a drivability score of 70 out of 100. |
60Crescent Lake has a bikeability score of 60 out of 100. |
Keep in mind
Crescent Lake has an exceptional nightlife variety. That means that this neighborhood is constantly buzzing.
Ready to Make the Move?
If St. Petersburg has caught your eye, take the next step with Apartments.com! Whether you’re dropping in for a short-term lease or hoping to set roots, Apartments.com has the tools to help you find the perfect place. Navigate housing across neighborhoods with our customized search engine and use our customizable filters to narrow your search by price, amenities, and floor plan.
Wherever you are and wherever you’re going, the options are endless with Apartments.com.
Apartment rent and cost of living data provided by CoStar Group’s September 2026 reports.
Methodology
Rent data are sourced from Apartments.com Rent Trends and neighborhood Area Guide pages, while walkability, transit, drivability, and bikeability ratings come from Apartments.com Area Guides, courtesy of Local Logic. Supplemental neighborhood research came from local government, tourism, and recreation sources.
FAQs
Is St. Petersburg a good place to live?
St. Petersburg is a good choice for renters who want coastal recreation, arts and culture, neighborhood character, and access to both an active downtown and Gulf beaches. Central Avenue brings galleries, restaurants, breweries, and entertainment together, while parks, preserves, and the waterfront give renters plenty to do outdoors.
Is St. Petersburg an expensive place to live?
At $1,832 per month, St. Petersburg’s average rent is about 10% above the current $1,665 national average. It also runs higher than nearby Tampa, where Apartments.com currently reports an average apartment rent of about $1,648 per month.
What's the average rent in St. Petersburg?
The average rent in St. Petersburg is $1,832/month, as of September 2026. This is about 10% above the national average rent of $1,665/month.
What salary do you need to live in St. Petersburg?
Using Apartments.com’s rent-affordability guideline, a renter paying around the current St. Petersburg average would want an income of roughly $73,392 per year before tax to keep rent near 30% of gross income. Actual needs will vary with utilities, transportation, debt, savings, and other expenses.
