How expensive is it to live in Florida??

[Mermaid02]

A friend of my dh's called Friday night and mentioned he could get my dh a job making about 35,000 more a year than he makes here in Maine! That's just base pay, not counting overtime. He is part owner of a construction company. Just curious, my dh would never move though.

 

[legs22]

Depends on where you go. Palm Beach County is one of the most expensive counties in the state of FL

 

[Pin Wizard]

That's for sure...Palm Beach County is no bargain. And Boca Raton is like mini New York. And it's only getting more expensive.

 

[minnie56]

And found it very expensive. I lived in the Sarasota area. That being said..I can only compare cost of living with here and I live in a upscale neighbourhood here. I know prices for homes, utilities,food etc vary greatly state to state.

 

[whtyger97]

I don't have a link to one handy, but you can find cost of living calculators online. Its intresting to play around with, i wouldn't trust it 100% but it gives you a good idea of the differences in housing/salary from one area to another.

 

[doxdogy]

It really depends on what part of the state. South Florida tends to be more expensive then North Florida. Our former neighbors are moving to Coral Springs in a couple of weeks. They mentioned that they will be paying 995 a month for an apartment. They said that they know they will never be able to afford a house down there. Here in Jacksonville the price of houses vary, it all depends on what side of town the house is located.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Coral Springs is in Broward County, right on the Palm Beach County border. I lived in Boca Raton 15 years. Just sold my home in March. I lived in that home 7.5 years. In that time, I sold it for more than double what I paid for it! GREAT for me! But I really had to decide carefully what I wanted to do. Loved my house there, but DS really could have used a pool. If I moved somewhere else in the area, I would have to pay just as much, probably more. $200,000 will get a very modest home in that area.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by whtyger97
I don't have a link to one handy, but you can find cost of living calculators online. Its intresting to play around with, i wouldn't trust it 100% but it gives you a good idea of the differences in housing/salary from one area to another.

http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Also keep in mind if you live on/or near the water....that has a lot to do with the pricing factor....we've lived on the water, near the water and then on a 'block' a normal 'block' and it was always different for my family.....

~Candy

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

I all depends on where you live. I grew up in FL and my family lives in Ocala. My aunt just had a house built and I think it cost around $107,000 (3/2 w/ 2 car garage and a screened patio) her payments w/ insurance around 550.00mo. It is WAY cheaper than living here in northern NY IMO. I used to think a light bill approaching 200.00 was bad, try the heating bill up here. Not to mention the cost of food! Why are fish sticks 4.99 for 24 up here and you can get about a thousand for 99 cents back home?!OUCH!!!
As soon as DH retires from the USAF in about a million years I am moving back!

 

[Bumbles]

north central FL is much cheaper than south FL

The Orlando area is a happy medium