2. 7 Valid Reasons Not to Move to Florida, Population: 5,565 Cost of Living Index: 86 Average Home Price: $188,000 (29% below Florida average) Average Rent Price: $843 per month Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents: 6.5 (74% below Florida average) Unemployment Rate: 4.1% 10 Year Job Growth Outlook: +44% Location: See in Google Maps. Like any other Florida city, Cape Coral also has several pros and cons that you must know before moving here. Meanwhile, Pensacola Beach is only about 40 minutes away. READ ALSO: 15 Most Affordable Hiking Boots: Buying Guide. Many have also been drawn there because it's one of nine states with no state income tax, which could potentially save them thousands of dollars per year. The city might be in the rural part of the state but the great job opportunities and strong economic growth make the city a wonderful place for families, multi-generational families, and even solo professionalsor expat. Vero Beach is considered 28% safer than other US cities. Out-of-pocket costs are capped at $6,600. 5 minutes in either direction on the main highway through Timber Pines will also get you to a Walmart or Target. Groceries, goods, and services can be really cheap. Edgewater has one of the lowest cost of living in Florida, as well as a strong school system. Jacksonville is not only one of the largest cities in the United States, with an estimated population of 911,507 it is the most populous city in Florida. North Carolina takes the No. 1. In 2019, New York and Georgia saw the most residents move to Florida. One of the best parts of life in Jacksonville is that living here costs just a fraction of what it costs to live in most other cities, even in Florida.House prices are rock bottom and you can rent an apartment here for an average of $980, which is significantly lower than the $1,500 national average. The cost of auto insurance can vary by state and insurance company, with an average rate of $1,758 a year nationwide for a good driver with good credit. With 400 miles of canals, the city is also known as Waterfront Wonderland. Hi Gary, Its actually not possible to cover the cost of living of each city in a single post. If you are in North Florida, you will never run out of options to explore the lovely beaches for a weekend getaway and relax under the sun. Groceries can be slightly pricier, but overall you will see a significant reduction in cost while living in Gainesville. Where would a safe and also wheelchair accessible and friendly place to live be on a budget of 800-900? Health care services may be higher than the national indexes, but overall Quincy is a cheap Florida city to live in. You may need to visit your current office to sign a release form. Valparaiso. For homebuyers, prices grew nearly 30% in Florida between the second quarter of 2021 and 2022, the most of any state. However being expensive or not, is relative. You can go for a day trip to Orlando which is just an hours distance by car. From July 2021 to July 2022, Florida's population grew to over 22 million people, according to new Census Bureau data. 6 . Florida Estimated cost to build a house: $208,825 Estimated hourly labor cost: $14 A relatively high average structure cost lands Florida among the most expensive places to build. You must visit Ichetucknee Springs State Park during the summer months and enjoy the cool activities in this popular Florida springs to beat the heat. Fellsmere is a small city nestled in a state park near the eastern coast of Florida. Youre welcome, Laura. It made it to #2 on our list of the cheap places to live in Florida mainly due to its extremely low costs across the board Lake Wales cost of living is 14% lower than average, while houses are only $165,000 and rent is around $750 per month, which is one of the lowest on this list. Average house is 350k, houses are renting at 2-2500 and apartments arent much cheaper than that. 4. Fort Worth, on the 65th spot, has an average rent of $1,341 per month with almost a million residents. The incomes and the cost of living in most states are proportionate to how you perceive your income. There are many job finding sites like Indeed, Career Builders, Monster which are perfect to find area-specific jobs. Plant City already has fame in the world for celebrating the Florida Strawberry Festival. Along Floridas famous Space Coast sits the greater Titusville which is famous for sunrise views, rocket blasts off and home to sea turtles. There are currently a fair amount of 2 and 3 bedroom houses available for under $200,000. What is the best way to find a job in the area you suggest? The total cost of a single adult is around $33,980 a year which is less than the annual cost of living in other towns in Florida. , Im going to move there to start over Im 60 years old where can you tell me is the best place and the cheapest I have to be pet friendly. In fact, the average price for a house is only $143,000, which is a whopping 46% below the average cost in Florida. It has earned a name as Monarch City and the Tree City of the USA. There are also modern chain stores like Walmart and Winn-Dixie at the edge of town. . You still get to enjoy places like Fort Myers Beach, Naples, Bonita Springs (All Short distant drive Beaches) I suggest Cape Coral. From housing expenses to dining, utility bills, healthcare, goods, and services, everything is pretty inexpensive in Edgewater. Residents rave about the strong sense of community that has developed in Lynn Haven, which was especially felt after Hurricane Michael in 2018. 3) Which state has a better economy Illinois or Florida? * School ratings vary widely, depending upon the criteria the particular organization uses. It features various job opportunities such as statistician, cement mason, physician assistant, rodbuster, and many more. . In terms of cost of living, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), Dade City is ranked 108 out of 273 cities across the USA which is 96.6% of the national average. While almost everyone loves living in Florida the first few months or years, a very high percentage of people eventually find Florida was a big enough mistake to go through the huge expense and hassle of another long distance move, just to get out. It is a resident-owned and self-governed park located in a prime location within Dunedin. This city is indeed one of the most affordable places to live in Florida. The biggest attraction is the beach life, as the coastline in New Smyrna Beach is just 10 minutes away from the center of town. Illinois ranked a respectable 15th* of the 50 states on K-12 overall, according to a report by the education research center Education Week. It is also home to five museums and well-known attractions like Mims, Oak Hills, Port St. John, and Scottsmoor. The study found that in all but 10 places, it is indeed cheaper to buy than to rent though in some of those places, the cost difference is minimal. You can find cheaper options on the outskirts of Orlando. It is affordable and has a very good healthcare system. Florida cost of living is 103.1 100=National Average AVERAGE RENT BY BEDROOM SIZE If everything were equal, such as you would earn the same income in Florida as Illinois, it would be hard to argue against moving to Florida from Illinois. Once you select a new doctor and school system, transfer all information. Cape Coral is surprisingly an inexpensive place in Florida where family homes can be found under $2000 per month for rentand a one-bedroom apartment can be rented for $1400 per month (or less). don't cover as much of the healthcare costs. If youre just going to go from my air conditioned house to my air conditioned car then save yourself the expense of moving 1000 miles and stay where you are with your heated house and car. Unless. For reference, here is a summary of the pros and cons of living in Florida. Lets find out! Florida has a higher cost of living index than Texas across most categories. 2. A: Florida is famous for its warm climate, beach resorts, amusement parks and so many other attractions. If you buy something through one of those links, you wont pay any extra penny, but Ill get a small commission that encourages me to deliver more helpful content for you. Moving from Utah have 3 dogs and will be needing work as I am setting out on a new adventure. They may avoid the most competitive rental markets like Miami-Dade and Orlando. It all depends on where you work, which city you live in, and how much risk you're willing to take when it comes to homeownership, insurance, and healthcare. If you buy into the hotter the better, move to a desert where daytime temps are from 120-140 degrees daily and enjoy yourself. Michigan has the highest average rates for minimum coverage of any state at $196 per month, while South Dakota has the lowest, at $28 per month. Depending on the source, it's between $173.000 and $180,000, compared to the national average of just over $231,000. Cheap labor and building costs help Oklahoma land in the No. It is located on Floridas east coast just 30 minutes from Daytona Beach and 1 hour from Orlando. Weve jotted down the best places to live in Northern Florida for you only. Better Weather winner? 25 Cheapest Places to Live; . So, where is the cheapest place to live in Florida that is also desirable? You learn stuff you didnt count on. Im really happy to help you to find your new affordable home in Fl. Apparently, a whole lot of Illinois residents have been unhappy with their state for many years. Are you looking for a place with a high quality of life as well as an affordable cost of living in Florida? Neither states rating is in the top 25 states but Illinois is ranked slightly higher. However, as of this writing, we are enjoying the longest period of time ever without a recession in the history of the US, so that rate only get Illinois rated as the 40th lowest rate. Michigan drivers pay nearly seven times more than South Dakota drivers. 5) Which state has better health care quality Illinois or Florida. But, unlike most other large cities, Jacksonville is one of the most affordable places to live if you love Florida. Meanwhile, the city offers many amenities, such as numerous golf courses, a shopping center with a farmers market, a Winn-Dixie, and even a Red Lobster and Chilis. Here is our terms & conditions that stipulates how you can use this site. the entire article is literally a list of EXACTLY that! One bedroom studio rent can be found under $1400 per month. Melbourne is considered 6% safer than USA cities, you have 1 in 35 chances of becoming a victim of property crime. Some beneficiaries may pay higher premiums for their Part B coverage, based on their income. Starting off our list of the cheap places to live in Florida that are actually desirable is Lynn Haven. If you want to live in a Cheap, well maintained, VERY CLEAN and VERY POLICED and Low Crime City- File a "Declaration of Domicile" with the clerk of circuit court in the Florida county where you live. Palm Coast, located on Florida's upper east coast, is home to one of Florida's best-kept-secret beaches, so residents don't have to fight tourists for prime beach space. Both have lots of job opportunities. I used to love PCB but it has become unbearable to live here with all of the tourist and price gouging. IDK why everyone is asking you about affordable places to live when this is literally a list of affordable places to live! Find out whether you are required to pay a Medicare IRMAA in 2022. On the other hand, the national median monthly rent is around $1,023. The average home cost in Bartow is under $275,000. The average rent of a 2 bedroom home in Quincy is around $1500. Pensacola. Visit the nearby Honeymoon Island State Park, enjoy the surrounding nature, and watch the beautiful sunset. Conclusion Florida's low initial vehicle costs are. This list is a very helpful part in my researching where to move to. For example, a state with a cost of living of 110 would be 10% higher than the national average. Especially Homosassa Springs and Hernando are quiet towns full of nature and wildlife. Of course, there is a great normal life here, too. Florida was rated below the national average in the 29th* spot. The lowest-cost silver plan, the MDWise Marketplace Silver Basic, costs $3,432 a year with its higher-than-average monthly premium of $286. It kicks off the rest of the list with Port Charlotte, Florida. Im looking to retire in next few months in Florida and I love how u put the actual cost to live decent in certain areas. According to the latest reports, Mississippi tops the list of the most affordable states in America in 2019. Population: 5,207 Cost of Living Index: 93 Average Home Price: $212,000 (20% below Florida average) Average Rent Price: $895 per month Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents: 20.8 (18% below Florida average) Unemployment Rate: 4.5% 10 Year Job Growth Outlook: +42% Location: See in Google Maps. Yes, its safe statistically with a lower crime rate. Employment in Bartow is mainly fueled by the county, state, and city governments. I wanted to know what places you recommend for a single 25 year old who just graduated with a nursing degree. It is a heaven for nature lovers. Depending on where you live, property taxes can be a small inconvenience or a major burden. While the cost of living in Florida is far from lowest, it's considerably cheaper overall than Illinois. The job prospects for South Daytona are also very strong, with an estimated 10 year growth of 43%, which is 10% more than the U.S. average. 33. Offering all the necessary amenities for a low cost of living this city doesnt break the bank with its affordable median home price. I was looking at the Pensacola nicevillie, chrestview area. The average cost of living in Florida is about 3% higher than the national US average, while median home prices are about $300,000. The competition is tough in popular cities like Miami, Tampa, Orlando. If moving to Florida with school age children, thorough research on education is strongly recommended. Population: 22,234. Stay far from the theme parks. Enjoy the vibe of Rock Creek Run and Wekiva River. Theres also the Arcadia Antiques Fair that is held on the 4th Sunday of every month. The average home price is currently $212,000, although there are quite a few options around $175,000. You should have dinner at Shilohs Steak & Seafood, from where you get spectacular views of NASAs Kennedy Space Center. Vero Beach is home to 16,693 people and is considered the 232nd largest city in Florida. Others might choose to forego a car purchase or look for areas of Florida with more moderate property taxes or insurance costs. It also has one massive asset, which is its affordability. The city is known for its peaceful lifestyle with a large lake as its centerpiece. Cost-of . For more adventure enjoy camping in New Smyrna Beach RV Park and Campground which is just 4 miles away from Edgewater and one of the best campgrounds in Florida. But you can definitely start from any of the cities listed above. This sprawling city has all the charm of a large city and suburban areas that families will love. US News ranks the states with the best economic affordability, based on the cost of living and housing affordability. Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change) Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x (14th most expensive) Income To Rent Ratio: 29.5x (2nd most expensive) More on Sunny Isles Beach: Real Estate | Data | Photos. Methodology to Find the Cheapest Places to Live in Florida, The 12 Cheapest Places to Live in Florida in 2023. READ ALSO: 10 Best Anti-Theft Travel Backpacks: Buying Guide. Ive lived all up and down the west coast. The only difference is rather than complaining about the cold and snow in Illinois, youll complain about the heat and humidity in Florida. You should act now if you want to join this growing community there are newneighborhoods being built with houses for sale that start around $160,000(at the time of this publication), but they are going fast. Groceries, utilities, and healthcare are also pretty affordable here. Meanwhile, Arcadias central location makes it an attractive city to consider to be close to some of Floridas biggest cities. Keeping the above points in mind I have sorted out the list of the best and cheapest places to live in Florida where you can enjoy warm weather, stunning landscapes, and gorgeous beaches without breaking your bank.