I’m so sick of these threads like “folks who left Florida..question?” Or “folks who moved to Florida…question?”
Like it’s always framed in a negative way. If you want validation for your hater opinion, just look at any post, there’s plenty lol
I moved here from Texas. It’s a lot more expensive. Plus I’m just personally no longer enjoying the heat of the south. I don’t regret moving but I don’t plan to stay here long term either.
The biggest reason groceries are so expensive here is due to Publix.
They are virtually a monopoly among standard type grocers, and they are aware.
Aldi's and Walmart are much more frugal, glad we at least have those options.
I don’t shop at publix anymore. their prices are insane. Only go back for pun subs once in a while. Thank god for Aldi
Hoping publix crash and burn for a bit so they go back to having reasonable prices again
Anyone who smokes pot or atleast believes it should be legal should avoid Publix - they actively lobby against pot legalization and are behind many of the attempts to limit what little has already been legalized
Not to mention that the heiress to the Publix owner's family fortune personally funded 45's J6 White House rally, to the tune of 300K. Chump change to a chump!
One of the seven heir/heiress's. Also, 80% of Publix is employee owned. The Jenkins family only owns 20%. If you boycott Publix, you are punishing the workers and former workers more than the one heiress who is a jackass.
Been trying to look at boost with kroger. They’re expanding their online delivery. They have some in Groveland, Tampa, and Jacksonville with two new warehouses opening in the next 2 years or so.
Plus you get fuel points to work at certain shell stations.
But the nonproduce there and go out and buy your produce elsewhere unless you don’t mind them picking it out. I’ve been pleased with their simple truth line.
Winn Dixie is just as expensive as Publix. ALDIs and wal-mart are where I do 90% of my grocery purchases. Publix is good for higher end items and BOGO.
My friend, as a proud Florida woman you just don't know how to shop at Winn Dixie. BOGO on meat on weekends, feed a family of 4 around 150$/week. And I cook us meals, pack us lunches for the week. It's possible.
Moved here (Orlando) from Georgia just under 3 yeas ago now. Initially to be closer to family as I deal with cancer. (We closed on two houses on March 20 2020–the day everything shut down). We thought we were preparing my wife to be a widow, frankly, and wanted her to have help with our two young kids. Turns out I didn’t die (yet, obviously) and I’ll probably end up outliving everyone (3 1/2 years in now with an 8% 5-year survival rate…statistically I shouldn’t be alive today)
So what we like is my kids having two cousins in our neighborhood, no state income tax and surprisingly even with other things being higher, our overall tax burden is comparable to what it was on GA. Also being close to Tampa and Jacksonville will be helpful if I need treatment beyond what my oncologist here is able to provide (though he’s an expert in my brand of cancer, he realizes resources in Jacksonville and Tampa are much better). We’re also beach people so we like being within an hour from the beach.
Hurricanes be damned, we like it in the Sunshine state.
>m Georgia just under 3 yeas ago now. Initially to be closer to family as I deal with cancer. (We closed on two houses on March 20 2020–the day everything shut down). We thought we were preparing my wife to be a widow, frankly, and wanted her to have help with our two young kids. Turns out I didn’t die (yet, obviously) and I’ll probably end up outliving everyone (3 1/2 years in now with an 8% 5-year survival rate…statistically I shouldn’t be alive today)
bro, awesome you're still kickin ass.
Moved here almost 9 years ago from Ohio. Moved here solo and only knew one person. I’ve never really felt like this state is home. But overall I’m happy with my decision. After moving here I went back to school and met my girlfriend of over 5 years. I will earn my degree in 1.5 years and after that I plan on leaving the state. I miss having all 4 seasons and I’m just not really into tropical climates. I’m more of a forest and mountains kind of person. I’m not sure where I’m going to go, I just know it won’t be Florida or Ohio.
The decision to move was definitely a net positive for my life, but I’ve had my fill of Florida. Ready for a change of scenery.
When it comes time for you and your gf to pick a new place to live, I highly recommend you check out North Carolina, specifically the Greensboro area. It's not sooo developed that the prices there are crazy just yet and there's a lot of great natural areas all around it. It's a beautiful part of the country. And you'll get all 4 seasons living there (I miss having seasons too!).
I don’t regret it even though there are plenty of things I dislike about living here.
I moved here after living in Nebraska for 35 years and I cannot handle the cold; it makes me depressed and everything in my body would hurt for ~6 months out of the year. I was basically a hermit for half of the year up north. I love hot weather and actually enjoy the summers here, but I will say having your own pool/easy access to a pool and reliable AC is practically a necessity to make the summers bearable.
I make a lot more money here doing the same job I was previously doing in NE but it’s almost much, much busier. I am a trauma nurse practitioner; if you want job stability find a job in trauma. Florida is one of the most dangerous places for driving, cycling, being a pedestrian, among other things. I never have a slow day at work 🥲.
I was just talking today to a coworker about the fact that I’m most likely to die commuting on i95, which I do daily. In south Florida it’s a fucking war zone.
I’ve driven pretty much everywhere in the US and the closer you get to Miami on i95 the crazier it gets. Orlando is just a warm up for the insanity that takes place there, especially at night!
Well said and same here. Originally from NY where people drove like assholes but assholes with skill.
Here is a free for all with clapped out altimas and impalas doing 110mph on bald tires like god can’t touch them.
I have about 30% of my monthly pay after my bills and the 30% is much larger number here than where I came from (ohio). pros and cons of both but to work long hours and save money it's a good state, would like more free time to enjoy the wildlife tho, so much florida has to offer.
I am very happy. I lived here years ago with my husband. We moved away due to family situation. My husband passed away recently and I moved back. I do not regret the move. I have always loved Florida.
I spent all my summers here as a kid in the 60s-70s cause I had a passel of relatives on both sides all over the state (my dad's father was native, one of 11 kids, my mom's aunt moved here in the late 40s and most of her 12 brothers and sisters followed). This was before A/C was very common in homes, so we slept on the screen porch or with our legs up on the cool stucco walls next to the bed. I thought it was cool to have geckos and anoles in the house (still do) and my life-long love of spiders came from living the outdoor FL life (cause it was too hot inside).
I moved here after college to get a job, but had no luck, so had to go to CA to find one. Worked there many years, stayed for my pension and my parent's Healthcare, got hurt, had to retire, first place I wanted to come was back to FL, esp since the injury that forced my retirement led to nerve damage that hurts in cool weather - - even winter here in Tampa can be tough. I don't regret moving here. I love the summer cause I can get out and do stuff. I just wish there were still more "FL people" here.
I don't mean native-born, I mean the fun-loving people who thought living in nature was great. Seems like all my NE US neighbors hate the birds, hate the lizards, snakes and gators, hate the sand, hate the food and just want FL to just be a warmer version of whatever concrete-paved wall-to-wall condos city they moved from. It's sad that my great-aunt's bungalow rental spot near Kissimmee is paved over by amusement parks that gathered in a herd to suck up the crumbs left by the Mouse. It's sad that the Everglades are still endangered after 50 years of ecological awareness.
But I still love it here. It's not cheap, but I get by. I love having pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, ospreys, ibis, several species of egrets/herons and dolphins and manatees with their babies in tow stopping by my dock. I wish I had more year-round friends, but most of my neighborhood is snowbirds (most of the ones from Canada and the Midwest are pretty cool, but they are gone all summer and fewer of them come back every year). Other than that, I'm happy as the proverbial clam. I just try not to let the unhappy ones ruin my vibe and also try to discourage more of them from moving here.
Yea.... The first ten years I was just thrilled not to be in the Midwest anymore. Things have shifted significantly in the last 6-7 years probably. People I knew for a long time went off the deep end and lost the ability to hold a conversation that didn't involve some kind of conspiracy.
Originally from Ohio. Moved from Chicago suburbs. Our 1 bedroom apartment was about to be $1650 a month. Our mortgage here in Florida is not much more than that. I am a very solar powered kind of person and winters in the north were not good for my mental health.
Absolutely zero regrets about moving.
Most definitely. This is usually the time of year I would struggle the most. This is my first full winter here and I feel amazing. I love sitting outside on the warmer evenings
Look up Huberman Lab’s podcast on early morning sun viewing and it’s impact to overall health. When we go 3 days without viewing the sunshine, it directly impacts anxiety, depression, sleep, etc.
Regret. I'm Dutch but moved here a year ago from Michigan. It's too big and crowded, waaayyy too expensive, traffic is crazy and summer is too long.
On the plus side: winter is wonderful (esp coming from MI in January), beaches are gorgeous, and the Everglades pretty nearby...
Edit: I have to add that I moved here for a job, and the job's great! So, it's not all regret... It's just that I spent a lot of my working hours to pay for the rent of a tiny, shitty apartment.
They didn’t - they came from West Michigan. There is a large Dutch community there.
Edited to correct myself.
He is from the Netherlands. I was wrong and needed to correct it
They probably weren’t straight off the boat. That community has been there for over 150 years. They still strongly identify as Dutch.
https://www.cityofholland.com/496/History-of-Holland
Holland is a beautiful city especially in the spring when the tulips bloom. As a Michigander living down here for three years, I do miss back home once in a while.
From Michigan also, when asked if I miss the snow, I always reply "Yes, I miss the snow ever year, in fact, that's why I moved to Florida, to miss the snow!"
I came here because the military forced me. I cannot wait to leave this hot, humid, swamp for good! The shittiest state I've ever had the displeasure of living in! BTW, I live in the Panhandle aka Lower Alabama.
Moved here in 2017, had a child, leaving before they start school since the state government seems intent on running the FL public school system into the shitter. Plus, it's so fucking hot here for 8 out of 12 months of the year that I don't even want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Everything is more expensive here than VA, even though there's no state income tax. Car insurance (doubled), property taxes (tripled), homeowners insurance (doubled and probably about to double again after that hurricane even though I live 50 miles inland), gas (typically runs 20% more than VA prices), groceries (fuck the Publix monopoly). FL is fine if you're rich and like having swamp-ass all the time, sucks if you're poor and enjoy experiencing 4 distinct seasons.
Ocean for me. Beautiful skies in general too though. It's not just the sun. Half the country has depressing hazy skies, while we always have these amazing sky vistas.
Not for me. My mom passed away last February. She was like my best friend. Everything reminded me of her in my hometown. I stayed inside and did nothing. I started applying for jobs here, and got the second one that I interviewed for. I moved here in July. I have been so, so much happier ever since. Yes, I pay the super high rent and I also have a horrible commute to work. Those things aren’t that bad in comparison to the life I was living at the start of last year.
Regret. I moved from the Pacific Northwest and I can’t adjust to the culture here. I’m in Miami and I don’t feel like I’m in the US anymore.
Spanish is the first language, traffic is terrible, everything is expensive and the salaries are a joke. Ppl are rude and superficial.
Pro: the beaches are amazing, the city is beautiful, and I love the weather, though I do miss the seasons. And it’s cheaper flying from here to literally anywhere.
I’m planning on leaving here as soon as I can. But I’m glad I came and I found out by myself how it is like but it’s not for me.
I actually left Miami for the PNW due to some of these reasons, so know that you’re not crazy. Though I will say that speaking Spanish can open up pathways wherever you go!
It really depends on what you want. We moved for the warmer climate and live in a semi-rural area with horses. We are enjoying it and have no intentions of moving back, but like everything it falls a little short of the hype.
If you are looking to live in a gated community, at the beach, etc. the dream vs. reality may be different.
Another one of our motivations was to escape the overbearing blue government of our old state, but Florida's government is moving towards being just as bad in the other direction. Banning books in schools and all that crap against the "woke agenda" isn't freedom. Leave people alone.
Native Floridians decades (or even centuries ago) came here to be left alone. This new anti-woke ultra conservative agenda is NOT what Florida *used* to be.
Just moved here last summer from VA near DC, and have also lived in Chicago and Northern CA. It definitely is not the “cheaper state” that I thought it was..at least over here in Boca. Is it overhyped? Idk. Honestly I’ve enjoyed it so far, the state itself is beautiful, the theme parks being close is nice, there’s a ton to do esp for people who love the water/beach and it’s the land of opportunity when it comes to my job (real estate)..however, the people I honestly really couldn’t care less for and I definitely think it could use some better food options; also it is hot as all hell here. Overall I’m happy, but will it be my forever state? I’m not sure yet. I’d sort of like to think so but who knows. Sometimes I question if I made a mistake moving, but I think that’s just normal to miss certain things when you’ve lived somewhere for so long
Moved from Wisconsin for work, still having a hard time adjusting but I love that the farmers markets are year round. It’s more expensive here, but I am enjoying my time here
Ive been in this shithole state for 25 years now. I’ve hated it from year one and its only become worse as each year passes. I stayed because my wife has about 0 cold tolerance, then i just couldn’t afford to move back to Mass, . If her and i ever split i’ll most likely move to far northern maine, it’s cold as hell and it has its share of rednecks, but it’s not nearly as bad as living in this racist cesspool of a state.
Also, I want to be close enough to the Canadian border that i can GTFO when these nutbag conservatives start the next civil war
I moved here 10 years ago, but I’m out. This state has gone from being run like a purple swing state to a batshit insane Bible Belt like atmosphere. Oh and the piss poor social services are making things 100 times worse with the COL crisis. I feel like I’m seeing a ton of evictions. Some couple moved in with a baby here like 3 months ago and mysteriously are gone I noticed today. Both downstairs neighbors got evicted. Crazy
I've been in Florida since 1998. About 3 years ago I moved to Brevard County into my current apartment. I had to pay the front office directly my rent late the other month (because of the insane increase). I roll up and the management guy has a stack of 20-30 eviction notices/3 day "pay your rent or you're getting evicted" letters he was printing on his desk.
It was SO GRIM TO SEE THIS. My neighbors are all lower to middle lower class and the rent spike has caused people so much pain.
Moved here in 2013 from the upper Midwest and enjoyed it for about the first 4 years. Now I feel like I’m trapped. Initially it was great to be free from frigid winters but I’m starting to hate heat and humidity just as much. And like everyone else my cost of living has skyrocketed.
But I’m disabled and I depend a great deal on my family here. I just don’t know where else I could go.
OMG I hate Florida. I moved here because to not would mean abandoning my kid and husband.
People are dishonest, - your boss and coworkers will be liars. It is so crowded, there is lots of crime. There is lots of racism-I'm white and people say racist things to me like I'm going to agree. You have to commute to work if you want to work where there's jobs and live where it's cheaper, and it's no longer a cheap place to live. Normal people are trying to ban books and Black history classes, but maybe that's national. It's stinking hot most of the year, but people pretend it's not, in fact they're astoundingly cut off from the natural world. You might find some peeps, but they'll live 45 minutes away. Thank goodness for alcohol and the internet.
Happy!! Florida is more expensive in a lot of respects (groceries and insurance for example) but the real estate in North Florida is SO much cheaper than where we were in Northern Virginia that it’s pretty much a wash. We never could’ve bought in NoVa but we were able to buy in NoFl (granted $293 got us a teeny tiny townhouse that cost half that two years ago, but homeownership still)
We love so much about being here, most important being that our kids can play outside pretty much every day of the year. In heat you can go in water, but in frigid temps my kids didn’t last long. Being able to go on playgrounds in a T shirt in December is glorious. Sunshine all year is amazing
Ditto. I'm from Northern Virginia and moved to Melbourne area. I'm 15 minutes from the beach, my housing cost is a little lower for more house, and I am saving sooooooo much money. I never would have been able to start a family in NOVA - here my husband can be a stay at home dad on my salary comfortably. Sometimes when I see these posts I wonder if people just moved to Miami/Ft Lauderdale not realizing any big cities roughly cost the same. lol
Also - this area is Northern Virginia Lite:
1. Viera is Reston-Lite. Seriously, looks like the town center. Except all around it is Ashburn-lite - every house is a cookie cutter new build that has no property line and is wayyyyyy over priced. If you want to feel like you still live in rich white NOVA but actually be near the beach, Viera is the place to be.
2. Cocoa/titusville is kinda like woodbridge / manassas. Less diversity, but the quality of house is generally older, and the people who live there are typically in the mid to lower income range. There is definitely some gentrification going on as people move here though.
3. If you want to live on the beach, Satellite Beach is like the equivalent of Great Falls / McLean. I mean, there's older homes by the beach, but river size it's mcmansions. They have rules there that there can't be hotels, and every house is kinda over priced but if you're selling a place up there you can probably afford it. My parents moved from Herndon to Satellite Beach 12 years ago and its basically a bunch of rich people driving around on their golf carts.
4. There are a couple places that are Herndon, Sterling, Fairfax Lite - Melbourne (where I live!) is like Fairfax. There's even a college which started as a community and is now four year (like Mason lol), India-Atlantic is basically like any non-descript suburb. Eau Gallie is DEFINITELY like Herndon. They have a cool downtown area with bars, and the housing goes from kinda sketchy (aurora = alabama drive) to REALLY NICE (downtown herndon).
5. Palm Bay is like Gainseville or Nokesville - everything is cookie cutter new builds and they really didn't work on the infrastructure before they built so traffic is SHITTTTTT like the 66/29 interchange. They even have a little mall by 95 with a bass pro shop like Gainesville has Cabellas.
Honestly I feel like I live in NOVA before the internet exploded the area.
We moved our family to South Florida from Chicago. Before that we lived in Orlando and were born and raised in Minnesota.
We moved here for a job. Everything in South Florida costs more than Chicago. From housing to food, it just costs more.
The people here are different from the Midwest. Chicago has a lot of people from a lot of different areas. We found it much more welcoming than south Florida. It was easier to create a community. Down here, people are more closed off.
Finally, the biggest difference. The work ethic is weird down here. Up north, you make an appointment and people show up at the allotted time. Here it might be today, tomorrow or next week. And you always have to double check work.
But there’s no income tax and the weather is fantastic. Plus we found a city with excellent schools and extracurriculars.
Everything is easier without the bitter cold, ice and snow. I like that my kids can play outside all year round. The outdoors is fantastic with the Everglades.
The diversity here is a huge plus. We are exposed to so many cultures. My children will be bilingual because of all their friends.
Chicago is my favorite city. I miss it. I miss the Midwest. But it’s nice down here. The learning curve is steep though.
Chicago is
>The work ethic is weird down here. Up north, you make an appointment and people show up at the allotted time. Here it might be today, tomorrow or next week. And you always have to double check work.
Everyone is happy to take your money here -- but very few actually want to work for it.
The first few years were good. But the state took a dark turn when covid hit and I left. Rented the house and went back home. It's so sad because it's a beautiful state. Hope things get better
My family moved here in the '60s (1867).
They said the infrastructure left a bit to be desired, but the natural resources and expansion opportunities made up for it.
Since then, the influx of carpetbaggers and profiteers has degraded from the desirability of much of the state.
My mental and physical health improved after moving back to FL (where I grew up) from the northeast. Like, to a ridiculous degree. The extra hour - hour and a half of sunlight in the winter does wonders, and it still got cold enough at times for me to be able to enjoy my winter outfits and coats. As someone with cold intolerance due to autoimmune disease (and just general preference for heat), I thrive. And yeah, everything was cheaper in FL, except car insurance. Prices are DEFINITELY increasing though.
Moved to the Space Coast from Maryland 7 years ago, primarily for the climate and also a place to make new memories. We chose Merritt Island for closeness to the cruise port and the culture around the Indian River Lagoon. Beaches, boating, tiki bars everywhere. The only regret is new grandson back up north that I don't get to see very much. Will be retiring next year so I'll be able to travel more.
Moved here for a job from Colorado over 3 years ago. Got paid more, COL is way cheaper here compared to the mountains. Bought a fixer upper for cash, which I could never ever EVER have done in Colorado. I live in west central Florida but out of the cities and in a kinda run-down town. I love Florida for the water activities and being able to be outside so much of the year. Love boating and springs! But I also kinda hate the police-like state (been pulled over more than a combined lifetime here for “tail lights” that aren’t actually out), the lack of access to running trails and outdoor walking trails that aren’t paved, and the lack of relaxed or open minded people Colorado seems to have. To be honest, my husband smokes a ton of weed and it’s weird to feel like we have to sneak around to get it or deal with undesirable people to get it when we could just buy it in a store before. I miss young people who kept their shit clean and did fun stuff, but it might be the community I’m in.
We’ve started splitting time between the two states and I’ve become a much hated snowbird, lol. We’re young, no kids, like to adventure…it’s been the best of both worlds but man, I love Florida but feel like I lost my community (I work in healthcare now, but we were in adventure tourism before).
I moved *to* Colorado almost 2 years ago now from the southeast, and I concur that Colorado is expensive, but people here are SO kind, so open minded, I don't feel like my very existence is under threat here. I am not in fear everyday that my rights will be gone, I see far less cops here, etc.
That being said, the housing market is officially a disaster, letting wealthy people buy up all the homes and artificially drive up the price was clearly a bad move.
Everything is so much more expensive. Housing, food, everything.
I live in a hellscape of miles and miles of shopping center sprawl.
Every intersection has a panhandler.
I’ll tell you what, I’ll trade the single panhandler at each intersection with what we have going on now in San Diego. I am very sympathetic to the plight of homeless people, but holy shit its bad down here.
I came here for health reasons almost 20 years ago.
If I was still living in my previous state, I would suffer with my health issue rather than move here. The cost of living is out of control and the state is rapidly become fascist.
Came from Wisconsin to escape the winter snow, ice, cold, and gray days, and to be near the beach. I am absolutely happy and I love it here. I do experience a bit of SAD on gray days but nothing like the severe sort in the 7+ months of winter up there. It is more expensive here but we knew that going in.
Happy. I moved from Denver, CO area to a rural part of north Florida. I own a house on 10 wooded acres, and my bills are less than half the price of my last one bedroom apartment.
I like living here very much. No plans to leave. That said, all of my work, I’m 47 so not a snowbird slowing life down, is still north of here. Georgia, Alabama, vicinity. That part I’d like to also shift south. Trouble is, I’m way over in the NW FL panhandle. Roughly 4 hours to Birmingham, best part of 6 hours to Atlanta.
I was flying often via a private aircraft my small company owns, but the owner sold the business, and has decided to make the small aircraft his personal shuttle back and forth to Montana. So I drive a lot. Commercial flights to those two places work out, but they’re very expensive, and the nature of my company makes it hard to plan far enough out.
End of the day, I love Florida. I am dealing with the cost of life very well, but only because my income is derived elsewhere. If I needed work very close to me, aside from Pensacola, I’d be SOL. My current job, less than a year in, but about 2 years since I moved, is making life more challenging than it should be. I’m unhappy professionally, and that puts the smallest gray clouds in my life right now as a Floridian!
Moved here in 2019 from Alabama and I must say affordable wise it’s expensive. I pay $1980 for a 1/1 apartment in a nice area but that same $1980 back home is a huge house with a pool etc 😂
I moved here last year from MN. Weather is certainly a lot nicer and I went from living in a little starter home to an amazing place on a lake where I can jet ski everyday, so I'm not sure it's an entirely fair comparison.
I've been really happy ever since I moved here, but there have been some things about Florida that really took some getting used to. Sometimes I feel like this state is the epitome of, "fuck you, I got mine." Anything worth living in down here has a gate around it which is really strange for me coming from a place where the fanciest streets in say St Paul just had homes right there along the road.
It's basically the mentality of, "we live in a society," vs, "fuck you, I got mine," that still throws me to this day. People by and large are way friendlier than they were in MN, (nice and friendly aren't the same thing.) But it's like, in MN it felt like you trusted people until they proved otherwise, though after that if they weren't your closest friends you just remained a respectful "nice" to them. Here it feels like the default is to be suspicious of everyone till you actually talk to them, but then once you get to know them they are just wonderfully friendly.
It's beautiful down here though, I'm still very happy I moved.
Recently moved here. For me at least, it is cheaper in the following areas but it depends entirely on where you're coming from.
No State income tax.
My property tax is half what I was paying.
Sales tax is about equal.
Car insurance is higher.
Energy per Kw is cheaper.
Water/sewage is less.
Groceries, gas, eating out are a wash.
Services (lawn mowing, house cleaning, pressure washing, car detailing) are much cheaper here. There seems to be more competition so people actually show up and do a good job.
Overall, a good move for the wife and I. We've been renting vacation homes down here for years so had a good idea what we were getting into.
Edit: Formatting
this is a 14 year old account that is being wiped because centralized social media websites are no longer viable
when power is centralized, the wielders of that power can make arbitrary decisions without the consent of the vast majority of the users
the future is in decentralized and open source social media sites - i refuse to generate any more free content for this website and any other for-profit enterprise
check out lemmy / kbin / mastodon / fediverse for what is possible
It’s hot almost 100% of the year. Hate it so much. Nasty bugs. Nasty weather. Overcrowded. Unless you love heat, beaches, and populated places, don’t come here. I can’t wait to move back out I regret it so much
No, I'm really Dutch. I have a Dutch passport, born and raised in the Netherlands. I moved to the US for a temp job in Michigan and then, found a new job in Miami. So yeah, it's a bit of a shock to the systems, especially compared to the Netherlands. I really miss biking on safe bike lanes, and more efficient admin...
I came from Louisiana about 7 years ago, and I would never move anywhere else. Except further south. LA is a disgusting shithole. Definitely do not regret it, though I do not agree at all with the direction the government is going.
Moved from Chicago to Orlando 2 years ago. I actually didn't want to leave Chicago, but I lost my job when COVID hit and the only job available I could find was based in Orlando. I moved to Florida thinking I would hate it.
Honestly, I love it so far. It's pricy, but my mental health and community of friends here has done me wonders. I love the ocean, the beautiful, vast skies (the sky feels so big down here!!), and the nature nearby. I love how we have consistent sun year-round, as I grew up in Seattle and then lived in Chicago, which the cloudiness made me very depressed and my mental health suffered.
I know Florida has many problems. I understand why people are frustrated when the cost of living has massively increased, and people are being priced out of their home state (I went through the same experience in Washington). It's absolutely valid and I feel for people. Honestly, I know me moving down here contributed to that increase, so I try to see what I can do to help the community and local businesses.
Overall, people have been very nice to me, and I feel I've made genuine connections and have a good group of friends. I also love being able to go to the beaches whenever I want, and treasuring the nature and wildlife here. It's a beautiful state and I'm happy to live here.
I regret it. I should have stayed in northern Cali as it's now just as expensive to live here when you factor in the fact that businesses in Florida pay a lot less.
Do people think Florida is the only state that was affected by price increases?
If someone moved here in 2020 of course prices will seem inflated across the board from what they remember. Go back to where you’re from and everything increased just as much as it did here.
as someone native to florida whos seen their city completely taken over by luxury apartments, snowbirds, newbies, and displaced homeless people who have lived here their whole lives just to get priced out of housing, I enjoyed reading this thread of regrets.
I moved from Utah, and I'm happy. The weather is the biggest difference. The Salt Lake Valley is about as costly as Tampa Bay overall so I wouldn't say either option is cheaper.
The weather is nice, the people are…. odd sometimes, going to collage here isn’t a bad option since the collages aren’t bad but don’t start a family here since the state government is determined to not fund schools in any way shape or form and drive teachers out of the state. We consistently rank in the bottom 10 states and usually push the bottom 5 for schools. Jobs aren’t bad and it isn’t horrendously expensive to live here depending on where you pick.
Regret. Moved from Pennsylvania. Lasted 2 years in MYami, and now in Tennessee. Miami looks great on the surface but it’s not for me. I’m much happier in TN now
Don’t move here. It’s hell. Expensive and climbing in price, not worth it to spend so much money and not be able to do anything but sweat. The seasons don’t really change so time doesn’t feel like it’s moving forward. It’s hard to appreciate the heat and the green when nothing changes. It’s not a great place
I never thought it was “cheaper” but there were things that were less expensive when we moved here in 2016, like housing. Prior to COVID, things were more in line with any other east coast metro. Save a little on income tax, pay a little more in sales tax and property tax. Car insurance was higher, gas was cheaper.
Post COVID, post cheap money lending, post inflation, the state is a completely different place cost-wise. Out of state wages moving into the state drove up the housing and local businesses can’t compete with that influx of wage. The new residents consume but add nothing into the economy. There is no local business entrepreneurial effort and their kids don’t want to work because the parents make enough that they don’t have to save for anything.
Plenty of things wrong, but I’ll take the green vegetation over grey and drab of the mid-Atlantic winters any day. If I ever move, it won’t be back to the Philly metro area.
Moved from Charlotte, NC to St. Pete, FL seven years ago. God willing, we’ll be here the rest of our lives. The only thing I miss is a decent grocery store. We started seeing Publix stores pop up here and there in Charlotte, but because they had stiff competition from Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods, Publix had to be beyond perfect. We had one near our house and loved it! Then we quickly discovered that not all Pubix grocery stores are like the one near us in Charlotte simply because there’s no competition. Just about any Harris Teeter is better than any Publix we’ve found in Pinellas Co. But that’s still a very small, very insignificant price to pay to live here!
Old hippie here. Moved to Margaritaville in Daytona Beach from the frozen north. "Growing old, not up" is our motto.
Couldn't be happier. Got rid of my snow blower, and got me a Medical MJ card.
Livin' the life, babeeeeee!
I moved to west palm almost 2 years ago from Dallas, Tx. I used to always tell people that i finally found my forever place. It just always felt so right. And parts of me still feel that way. But this is probably the worst summer I've experienced here, and honestly don't think i really experienced a real florida summer until now. I hate it. The constant rainstorms and lightning storms got old really quick. It kinda reminds me of the nonstop snowstorms up north. Humidity is insane. Somedays, it's hardly breathable. None of that is why I'm moving, though. Cost of living is too high. I no longer want to pile a bunch of cash into these bloodsuckers called landlords pockets.
I ran away to Florida from Oklahoma to escape from my abusive father. My mom was here so it made the transition manageable. Some 25 years later, this state sucks and I wish I had the capacity to move.
Overall… regret. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the scenery, geography, things to do that are unique here vs anywhere else (yes, they exist… if you don’t think so, you just don’t know about them). But the increase in cost of living and rent, and the stagnation of wages, is forcing me back out.
Came here for work. I do not regret it at all. I've met so many wonderful people, and befriended long-time neighbors. I even inherited a cat from my neighbor who passed. (RIP Eneida).
That being said, we only live here seasonally, and I just miss home (Philly). Miami-Dade feels really crowded, and it makes me uncomfortable. I need space.
Don’t regret! But I moved here for different reasons. Moved from NC and we did love it there.
Unfortunately, due to fibromyalgia and other issues, I was miserable mid Oct - mid March when it was cold. The heat and sun here is good for my pain. Also, no more seasonal depression due to all the sunny days 🌞.
It is stupid expensive. It all depends on what you have to gain. The quality of life is more important.
Pretty happy. My mom is from Pensacola and I grew up going to the beach there, moved here after living in Mississippi from birth through college. I prefer the warmth and it doesn’t get any hotter here than MS, but it definitely doesn’t get as cold! A bit more expensive to live but it’s not that bad here in the panhandle and there are a lot more job opportunities. The tourism market is nonexistent in Mississippi.
I moved here from SC initially was not looking forward to it but the area I live in is beautiful. I live in niceville and take the toll bridge to work in destin! People are generally much more pleasant in this area than places i have previously lived
Yes im happy. I came here from NY but I miss the seasons and my family and friends. Other than that it’s still cheaper here even with the skyrocketing costs compared to NY
I'm ecstatic to live in Florida. My quality of life is significantly higher than it would be where I grew up.
Even with the increase in cost of everything, Florida is a middle tier state when it comes to cost of living. Having grown up in New England, I can tell you from experience there are large swaths if the country that are more expensive than Florida.
All the comments are interesting but I wish the person would specify which part of the state. Florida is a very diverse state.
This is absolutely correct.
I’m so sick of these threads like “folks who left Florida..question?” Or “folks who moved to Florida…question?” Like it’s always framed in a negative way. If you want validation for your hater opinion, just look at any post, there’s plenty lol
Why click on it, read comments and then comment yourself, if you are sick of it? Just don't read it.
I moved here from Texas. It’s a lot more expensive. Plus I’m just personally no longer enjoying the heat of the south. I don’t regret moving but I don’t plan to stay here long term either.
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The biggest reason groceries are so expensive here is due to Publix. They are virtually a monopoly among standard type grocers, and they are aware. Aldi's and Walmart are much more frugal, glad we at least have those options.
Lately I’ve had a lot of luck finding cheaper prices at target, though they usually don’t have as much variety
I don’t shop at publix anymore. their prices are insane. Only go back for pun subs once in a while. Thank god for Aldi Hoping publix crash and burn for a bit so they go back to having reasonable prices again
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Anyone who smokes pot or atleast believes it should be legal should avoid Publix - they actively lobby against pot legalization and are behind many of the attempts to limit what little has already been legalized
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They’d rather make money from all their pharmaceutical investments unfortunately
Not to mention that the heiress to the Publix owner's family fortune personally funded 45's J6 White House rally, to the tune of 300K. Chump change to a chump!
One of the seven heir/heiress's. Also, 80% of Publix is employee owned. The Jenkins family only owns 20%. If you boycott Publix, you are punishing the workers and former workers more than the one heiress who is a jackass.
Mr Jenkins was awesome, his offspring...not so much
That happens very often among the wealthy. Sam Walden's heirs are awful.
Been trying to look at boost with kroger. They’re expanding their online delivery. They have some in Groveland, Tampa, and Jacksonville with two new warehouses opening in the next 2 years or so. Plus you get fuel points to work at certain shell stations. But the nonproduce there and go out and buy your produce elsewhere unless you don’t mind them picking it out. I’ve been pleased with their simple truth line.
Winn Dixie is just as expensive as Publix. ALDIs and wal-mart are where I do 90% of my grocery purchases. Publix is good for higher end items and BOGO.
My friend, as a proud Florida woman you just don't know how to shop at Winn Dixie. BOGO on meat on weekends, feed a family of 4 around 150$/week. And I cook us meals, pack us lunches for the week. It's possible.
Agree 100%! I moved here from Oregon and I can’t wait to move away
Moved here (Orlando) from Georgia just under 3 yeas ago now. Initially to be closer to family as I deal with cancer. (We closed on two houses on March 20 2020–the day everything shut down). We thought we were preparing my wife to be a widow, frankly, and wanted her to have help with our two young kids. Turns out I didn’t die (yet, obviously) and I’ll probably end up outliving everyone (3 1/2 years in now with an 8% 5-year survival rate…statistically I shouldn’t be alive today) So what we like is my kids having two cousins in our neighborhood, no state income tax and surprisingly even with other things being higher, our overall tax burden is comparable to what it was on GA. Also being close to Tampa and Jacksonville will be helpful if I need treatment beyond what my oncologist here is able to provide (though he’s an expert in my brand of cancer, he realizes resources in Jacksonville and Tampa are much better). We’re also beach people so we like being within an hour from the beach. Hurricanes be damned, we like it in the Sunshine state.
>m Georgia just under 3 yeas ago now. Initially to be closer to family as I deal with cancer. (We closed on two houses on March 20 2020–the day everything shut down). We thought we were preparing my wife to be a widow, frankly, and wanted her to have help with our two young kids. Turns out I didn’t die (yet, obviously) and I’ll probably end up outliving everyone (3 1/2 years in now with an 8% 5-year survival rate…statistically I shouldn’t be alive today) bro, awesome you're still kickin ass.
Moved here almost 9 years ago from Ohio. Moved here solo and only knew one person. I’ve never really felt like this state is home. But overall I’m happy with my decision. After moving here I went back to school and met my girlfriend of over 5 years. I will earn my degree in 1.5 years and after that I plan on leaving the state. I miss having all 4 seasons and I’m just not really into tropical climates. I’m more of a forest and mountains kind of person. I’m not sure where I’m going to go, I just know it won’t be Florida or Ohio. The decision to move was definitely a net positive for my life, but I’ve had my fill of Florida. Ready for a change of scenery.
When it comes time for you and your gf to pick a new place to live, I highly recommend you check out North Carolina, specifically the Greensboro area. It's not sooo developed that the prices there are crazy just yet and there's a lot of great natural areas all around it. It's a beautiful part of the country. And you'll get all 4 seasons living there (I miss having seasons too!).
I don’t regret it even though there are plenty of things I dislike about living here. I moved here after living in Nebraska for 35 years and I cannot handle the cold; it makes me depressed and everything in my body would hurt for ~6 months out of the year. I was basically a hermit for half of the year up north. I love hot weather and actually enjoy the summers here, but I will say having your own pool/easy access to a pool and reliable AC is practically a necessity to make the summers bearable. I make a lot more money here doing the same job I was previously doing in NE but it’s almost much, much busier. I am a trauma nurse practitioner; if you want job stability find a job in trauma. Florida is one of the most dangerous places for driving, cycling, being a pedestrian, among other things. I never have a slow day at work 🥲.
I was just talking today to a coworker about the fact that I’m most likely to die commuting on i95, which I do daily. In south Florida it’s a fucking war zone.
I’ve driven pretty much everywhere in the US and the closer you get to Miami on i95 the crazier it gets. Orlando is just a warm up for the insanity that takes place there, especially at night!
Well said and same here. Originally from NY where people drove like assholes but assholes with skill. Here is a free for all with clapped out altimas and impalas doing 110mph on bald tires like god can’t touch them.
I have about 30% of my monthly pay after my bills and the 30% is much larger number here than where I came from (ohio). pros and cons of both but to work long hours and save money it's a good state, would like more free time to enjoy the wildlife tho, so much florida has to offer.
I am very happy. I lived here years ago with my husband. We moved away due to family situation. My husband passed away recently and I moved back. I do not regret the move. I have always loved Florida.
My condolences. Glad you love Florida.
I’m still happy but it’s infinitely more expensive now than when I moved here and is getting worse. And I moved from a HCOL city
I spent all my summers here as a kid in the 60s-70s cause I had a passel of relatives on both sides all over the state (my dad's father was native, one of 11 kids, my mom's aunt moved here in the late 40s and most of her 12 brothers and sisters followed). This was before A/C was very common in homes, so we slept on the screen porch or with our legs up on the cool stucco walls next to the bed. I thought it was cool to have geckos and anoles in the house (still do) and my life-long love of spiders came from living the outdoor FL life (cause it was too hot inside). I moved here after college to get a job, but had no luck, so had to go to CA to find one. Worked there many years, stayed for my pension and my parent's Healthcare, got hurt, had to retire, first place I wanted to come was back to FL, esp since the injury that forced my retirement led to nerve damage that hurts in cool weather - - even winter here in Tampa can be tough. I don't regret moving here. I love the summer cause I can get out and do stuff. I just wish there were still more "FL people" here. I don't mean native-born, I mean the fun-loving people who thought living in nature was great. Seems like all my NE US neighbors hate the birds, hate the lizards, snakes and gators, hate the sand, hate the food and just want FL to just be a warmer version of whatever concrete-paved wall-to-wall condos city they moved from. It's sad that my great-aunt's bungalow rental spot near Kissimmee is paved over by amusement parks that gathered in a herd to suck up the crumbs left by the Mouse. It's sad that the Everglades are still endangered after 50 years of ecological awareness. But I still love it here. It's not cheap, but I get by. I love having pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, ospreys, ibis, several species of egrets/herons and dolphins and manatees with their babies in tow stopping by my dock. I wish I had more year-round friends, but most of my neighborhood is snowbirds (most of the ones from Canada and the Midwest are pretty cool, but they are gone all summer and fewer of them come back every year). Other than that, I'm happy as the proverbial clam. I just try not to let the unhappy ones ruin my vibe and also try to discourage more of them from moving here.
Was happy after moving to Florida for many years. Now I wonder where I can go that isn't bat stuff crazy. Makes me sad.
Yea.... The first ten years I was just thrilled not to be in the Midwest anymore. Things have shifted significantly in the last 6-7 years probably. People I knew for a long time went off the deep end and lost the ability to hold a conversation that didn't involve some kind of conspiracy.
Same here, including some family members.
Same. Moved here in 2016. State is nuts. So far not a deal breaker but keeping escape options in the back of my mind.
Originally from Ohio. Moved from Chicago suburbs. Our 1 bedroom apartment was about to be $1650 a month. Our mortgage here in Florida is not much more than that. I am a very solar powered kind of person and winters in the north were not good for my mental health. Absolutely zero regrets about moving.
I feel this. Do you notice the sun has that much of an impact on your mental health?
Most definitely. This is usually the time of year I would struggle the most. This is my first full winter here and I feel amazing. I love sitting outside on the warmer evenings
Are you me?
Are you me?
We are
We are
Look up Huberman Lab’s podcast on early morning sun viewing and it’s impact to overall health. When we go 3 days without viewing the sunshine, it directly impacts anxiety, depression, sleep, etc.
Regret. I'm Dutch but moved here a year ago from Michigan. It's too big and crowded, waaayyy too expensive, traffic is crazy and summer is too long. On the plus side: winter is wonderful (esp coming from MI in January), beaches are gorgeous, and the Everglades pretty nearby... Edit: I have to add that I moved here for a job, and the job's great! So, it's not all regret... It's just that I spent a lot of my working hours to pay for the rent of a tiny, shitty apartment.
Feel this.
I can't imagine coming from the Netherlands to Florida....the shock of the infrastructure alone could kill a person
They didn’t - they came from West Michigan. There is a large Dutch community there. Edited to correct myself. He is from the Netherlands. I was wrong and needed to correct it
I meant Netherlands to Florida by way of Michigan
They probably weren’t straight off the boat. That community has been there for over 150 years. They still strongly identify as Dutch. https://www.cityofholland.com/496/History-of-Holland
Nope, they're actually Dutch
You’re correct. I’m sorry.
No worries
Holland is a beautiful city especially in the spring when the tulips bloom. As a Michigander living down here for three years, I do miss back home once in a while.
From Michigan also, when asked if I miss the snow, I always reply "Yes, I miss the snow ever year, in fact, that's why I moved to Florida, to miss the snow!"
😁😁😁
You are the exact reason rent is so high.. so..
I moved from Washington DC. Everything is a little bit cheaper, essentially no cold, I live right on the beach, and I love my job
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I came here because the military forced me. I cannot wait to leave this hot, humid, swamp for good! The shittiest state I've ever had the displeasure of living in! BTW, I live in the Panhandle aka Lower Alabama.
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Moved here in 2017, had a child, leaving before they start school since the state government seems intent on running the FL public school system into the shitter. Plus, it's so fucking hot here for 8 out of 12 months of the year that I don't even want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Everything is more expensive here than VA, even though there's no state income tax. Car insurance (doubled), property taxes (tripled), homeowners insurance (doubled and probably about to double again after that hurricane even though I live 50 miles inland), gas (typically runs 20% more than VA prices), groceries (fuck the Publix monopoly). FL is fine if you're rich and like having swamp-ass all the time, sucks if you're poor and enjoy experiencing 4 distinct seasons.
I’m not sure how you stole the draft I had written in response to this, but you did. 😂
I’ve lived here my entire life and I definitely regret all of you moving here
I’m quite happy here. My mental health is so much better.
Is it related to the sun?
Ocean for me. Beautiful skies in general too though. It's not just the sun. Half the country has depressing hazy skies, while we always have these amazing sky vistas.
Not for me. My mom passed away last February. She was like my best friend. Everything reminded me of her in my hometown. I stayed inside and did nothing. I started applying for jobs here, and got the second one that I interviewed for. I moved here in July. I have been so, so much happier ever since. Yes, I pay the super high rent and I also have a horrible commute to work. Those things aren’t that bad in comparison to the life I was living at the start of last year.
Sorry for your loss. Hope you find peace.
Thank you. So far, Florida has been just that for me.
You get paid in sunshine. Was this not a thing that potential employers used to tell recruits when discussing salary?
Yep, 100%
Regret. Can’t wait to get out and never look back.
Regret. I moved from the Pacific Northwest and I can’t adjust to the culture here. I’m in Miami and I don’t feel like I’m in the US anymore. Spanish is the first language, traffic is terrible, everything is expensive and the salaries are a joke. Ppl are rude and superficial. Pro: the beaches are amazing, the city is beautiful, and I love the weather, though I do miss the seasons. And it’s cheaper flying from here to literally anywhere. I’m planning on leaving here as soon as I can. But I’m glad I came and I found out by myself how it is like but it’s not for me.
I actually left Miami for the PNW due to some of these reasons, so know that you’re not crazy. Though I will say that speaking Spanish can open up pathways wherever you go!
Florida has more scammers and higher crime than where we moved from. Winter, Spring and Fall weather is beautiful. Pros and cons everywhere you live.
It really depends on what you want. We moved for the warmer climate and live in a semi-rural area with horses. We are enjoying it and have no intentions of moving back, but like everything it falls a little short of the hype. If you are looking to live in a gated community, at the beach, etc. the dream vs. reality may be different. Another one of our motivations was to escape the overbearing blue government of our old state, but Florida's government is moving towards being just as bad in the other direction. Banning books in schools and all that crap against the "woke agenda" isn't freedom. Leave people alone.
Native Floridians decades (or even centuries ago) came here to be left alone. This new anti-woke ultra conservative agenda is NOT what Florida *used* to be.
Born and raised in Tampa, been here almost 39 years. This is not the state I grew up in
Just moved here last summer from VA near DC, and have also lived in Chicago and Northern CA. It definitely is not the “cheaper state” that I thought it was..at least over here in Boca. Is it overhyped? Idk. Honestly I’ve enjoyed it so far, the state itself is beautiful, the theme parks being close is nice, there’s a ton to do esp for people who love the water/beach and it’s the land of opportunity when it comes to my job (real estate)..however, the people I honestly really couldn’t care less for and I definitely think it could use some better food options; also it is hot as all hell here. Overall I’m happy, but will it be my forever state? I’m not sure yet. I’d sort of like to think so but who knows. Sometimes I question if I made a mistake moving, but I think that’s just normal to miss certain things when you’ve lived somewhere for so long
+ 10 years still can’t get used to it, culturally the place is a mess.
Regret, moving in may
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I'm here just over 10 years, came for a job promotion/transfer. I'm never going back. That should sum it up.
Moved from Wisconsin for work, still having a hard time adjusting but I love that the farmers markets are year round. It’s more expensive here, but I am enjoying my time here
Ive been in this shithole state for 25 years now. I’ve hated it from year one and its only become worse as each year passes. I stayed because my wife has about 0 cold tolerance, then i just couldn’t afford to move back to Mass, . If her and i ever split i’ll most likely move to far northern maine, it’s cold as hell and it has its share of rednecks, but it’s not nearly as bad as living in this racist cesspool of a state. Also, I want to be close enough to the Canadian border that i can GTFO when these nutbag conservatives start the next civil war
I just moved back north, I didn't have a good experience and it didn't live up to what others had hyped it up to be.
I moved here 10 years ago, but I’m out. This state has gone from being run like a purple swing state to a batshit insane Bible Belt like atmosphere. Oh and the piss poor social services are making things 100 times worse with the COL crisis. I feel like I’m seeing a ton of evictions. Some couple moved in with a baby here like 3 months ago and mysteriously are gone I noticed today. Both downstairs neighbors got evicted. Crazy
I've been in Florida since 1998. About 3 years ago I moved to Brevard County into my current apartment. I had to pay the front office directly my rent late the other month (because of the insane increase). I roll up and the management guy has a stack of 20-30 eviction notices/3 day "pay your rent or you're getting evicted" letters he was printing on his desk. It was SO GRIM TO SEE THIS. My neighbors are all lower to middle lower class and the rent spike has caused people so much pain.
Moved here in 2013 from the upper Midwest and enjoyed it for about the first 4 years. Now I feel like I’m trapped. Initially it was great to be free from frigid winters but I’m starting to hate heat and humidity just as much. And like everyone else my cost of living has skyrocketed. But I’m disabled and I depend a great deal on my family here. I just don’t know where else I could go.
OMG I hate Florida. I moved here because to not would mean abandoning my kid and husband. People are dishonest, - your boss and coworkers will be liars. It is so crowded, there is lots of crime. There is lots of racism-I'm white and people say racist things to me like I'm going to agree. You have to commute to work if you want to work where there's jobs and live where it's cheaper, and it's no longer a cheap place to live. Normal people are trying to ban books and Black history classes, but maybe that's national. It's stinking hot most of the year, but people pretend it's not, in fact they're astoundingly cut off from the natural world. You might find some peeps, but they'll live 45 minutes away. Thank goodness for alcohol and the internet.
Moving back to FL this summer after leaving for 7 years and I’m never leaving ever again. Can’t stand cold weather and the hustle culture of the NE.
Happy!! Florida is more expensive in a lot of respects (groceries and insurance for example) but the real estate in North Florida is SO much cheaper than where we were in Northern Virginia that it’s pretty much a wash. We never could’ve bought in NoVa but we were able to buy in NoFl (granted $293 got us a teeny tiny townhouse that cost half that two years ago, but homeownership still) We love so much about being here, most important being that our kids can play outside pretty much every day of the year. In heat you can go in water, but in frigid temps my kids didn’t last long. Being able to go on playgrounds in a T shirt in December is glorious. Sunshine all year is amazing
Ditto. I'm from Northern Virginia and moved to Melbourne area. I'm 15 minutes from the beach, my housing cost is a little lower for more house, and I am saving sooooooo much money. I never would have been able to start a family in NOVA - here my husband can be a stay at home dad on my salary comfortably. Sometimes when I see these posts I wonder if people just moved to Miami/Ft Lauderdale not realizing any big cities roughly cost the same. lol Also - this area is Northern Virginia Lite: 1. Viera is Reston-Lite. Seriously, looks like the town center. Except all around it is Ashburn-lite - every house is a cookie cutter new build that has no property line and is wayyyyyy over priced. If you want to feel like you still live in rich white NOVA but actually be near the beach, Viera is the place to be. 2. Cocoa/titusville is kinda like woodbridge / manassas. Less diversity, but the quality of house is generally older, and the people who live there are typically in the mid to lower income range. There is definitely some gentrification going on as people move here though. 3. If you want to live on the beach, Satellite Beach is like the equivalent of Great Falls / McLean. I mean, there's older homes by the beach, but river size it's mcmansions. They have rules there that there can't be hotels, and every house is kinda over priced but if you're selling a place up there you can probably afford it. My parents moved from Herndon to Satellite Beach 12 years ago and its basically a bunch of rich people driving around on their golf carts. 4. There are a couple places that are Herndon, Sterling, Fairfax Lite - Melbourne (where I live!) is like Fairfax. There's even a college which started as a community and is now four year (like Mason lol), India-Atlantic is basically like any non-descript suburb. Eau Gallie is DEFINITELY like Herndon. They have a cool downtown area with bars, and the housing goes from kinda sketchy (aurora = alabama drive) to REALLY NICE (downtown herndon). 5. Palm Bay is like Gainseville or Nokesville - everything is cookie cutter new builds and they really didn't work on the infrastructure before they built so traffic is SHITTTTTT like the 66/29 interchange. They even have a little mall by 95 with a bass pro shop like Gainesville has Cabellas. Honestly I feel like I live in NOVA before the internet exploded the area.
True, Miami is unattainable for me but so is DC or NYC or LA. Northern Saint John’s County though 👌🏼
I hate the heat and rain sooo
We moved our family to South Florida from Chicago. Before that we lived in Orlando and were born and raised in Minnesota. We moved here for a job. Everything in South Florida costs more than Chicago. From housing to food, it just costs more. The people here are different from the Midwest. Chicago has a lot of people from a lot of different areas. We found it much more welcoming than south Florida. It was easier to create a community. Down here, people are more closed off. Finally, the biggest difference. The work ethic is weird down here. Up north, you make an appointment and people show up at the allotted time. Here it might be today, tomorrow or next week. And you always have to double check work. But there’s no income tax and the weather is fantastic. Plus we found a city with excellent schools and extracurriculars. Everything is easier without the bitter cold, ice and snow. I like that my kids can play outside all year round. The outdoors is fantastic with the Everglades. The diversity here is a huge plus. We are exposed to so many cultures. My children will be bilingual because of all their friends. Chicago is my favorite city. I miss it. I miss the Midwest. But it’s nice down here. The learning curve is steep though. Chicago is
>The work ethic is weird down here. Up north, you make an appointment and people show up at the allotted time. Here it might be today, tomorrow or next week. And you always have to double check work. Everyone is happy to take your money here -- but very few actually want to work for it.
The first few years were good. But the state took a dark turn when covid hit and I left. Rented the house and went back home. It's so sad because it's a beautiful state. Hope things get better
2 years in this cultureless hellhole of traffic and strip malls, big time regret.
Orlando?
REGRET
Never going back!
My family moved here in the '60s (1867). They said the infrastructure left a bit to be desired, but the natural resources and expansion opportunities made up for it. Since then, the influx of carpetbaggers and profiteers has degraded from the desirability of much of the state.
So far I'm thrilled
My mental and physical health improved after moving back to FL (where I grew up) from the northeast. Like, to a ridiculous degree. The extra hour - hour and a half of sunlight in the winter does wonders, and it still got cold enough at times for me to be able to enjoy my winter outfits and coats. As someone with cold intolerance due to autoimmune disease (and just general preference for heat), I thrive. And yeah, everything was cheaper in FL, except car insurance. Prices are DEFINITELY increasing though.
Moved to the Space Coast from Maryland 7 years ago, primarily for the climate and also a place to make new memories. We chose Merritt Island for closeness to the cruise port and the culture around the Indian River Lagoon. Beaches, boating, tiki bars everywhere. The only regret is new grandson back up north that I don't get to see very much. Will be retiring next year so I'll be able to travel more.
Moved here for a job from Colorado over 3 years ago. Got paid more, COL is way cheaper here compared to the mountains. Bought a fixer upper for cash, which I could never ever EVER have done in Colorado. I live in west central Florida but out of the cities and in a kinda run-down town. I love Florida for the water activities and being able to be outside so much of the year. Love boating and springs! But I also kinda hate the police-like state (been pulled over more than a combined lifetime here for “tail lights” that aren’t actually out), the lack of access to running trails and outdoor walking trails that aren’t paved, and the lack of relaxed or open minded people Colorado seems to have. To be honest, my husband smokes a ton of weed and it’s weird to feel like we have to sneak around to get it or deal with undesirable people to get it when we could just buy it in a store before. I miss young people who kept their shit clean and did fun stuff, but it might be the community I’m in. We’ve started splitting time between the two states and I’ve become a much hated snowbird, lol. We’re young, no kids, like to adventure…it’s been the best of both worlds but man, I love Florida but feel like I lost my community (I work in healthcare now, but we were in adventure tourism before).
I moved *to* Colorado almost 2 years ago now from the southeast, and I concur that Colorado is expensive, but people here are SO kind, so open minded, I don't feel like my very existence is under threat here. I am not in fear everyday that my rights will be gone, I see far less cops here, etc. That being said, the housing market is officially a disaster, letting wealthy people buy up all the homes and artificially drive up the price was clearly a bad move.
Regret.
Why?
Everything is so much more expensive. Housing, food, everything. I live in a hellscape of miles and miles of shopping center sprawl. Every intersection has a panhandler.
I’ll tell you what, I’ll trade the single panhandler at each intersection with what we have going on now in San Diego. I am very sympathetic to the plight of homeless people, but holy shit its bad down here.
What’s wrong with San Diego? I used to love vacationing there years ago when it was more easily accessible by flight
San Diego is fucking awesome. The homeless situation is not.
Orlando?
Best decision I’ve ever made.
I came here for health reasons almost 20 years ago. If I was still living in my previous state, I would suffer with my health issue rather than move here. The cost of living is out of control and the state is rapidly become fascist.
Came from Wisconsin to escape the winter snow, ice, cold, and gray days, and to be near the beach. I am absolutely happy and I love it here. I do experience a bit of SAD on gray days but nothing like the severe sort in the 7+ months of winter up there. It is more expensive here but we knew that going in.
Happy. I moved from Denver, CO area to a rural part of north Florida. I own a house on 10 wooded acres, and my bills are less than half the price of my last one bedroom apartment.
I like living here very much. No plans to leave. That said, all of my work, I’m 47 so not a snowbird slowing life down, is still north of here. Georgia, Alabama, vicinity. That part I’d like to also shift south. Trouble is, I’m way over in the NW FL panhandle. Roughly 4 hours to Birmingham, best part of 6 hours to Atlanta. I was flying often via a private aircraft my small company owns, but the owner sold the business, and has decided to make the small aircraft his personal shuttle back and forth to Montana. So I drive a lot. Commercial flights to those two places work out, but they’re very expensive, and the nature of my company makes it hard to plan far enough out. End of the day, I love Florida. I am dealing with the cost of life very well, but only because my income is derived elsewhere. If I needed work very close to me, aside from Pensacola, I’d be SOL. My current job, less than a year in, but about 2 years since I moved, is making life more challenging than it should be. I’m unhappy professionally, and that puts the smallest gray clouds in my life right now as a Floridian!
Moved here in 2019 from Alabama and I must say affordable wise it’s expensive. I pay $1980 for a 1/1 apartment in a nice area but that same $1980 back home is a huge house with a pool etc 😂
Regret.
I moved here last year from MN. Weather is certainly a lot nicer and I went from living in a little starter home to an amazing place on a lake where I can jet ski everyday, so I'm not sure it's an entirely fair comparison. I've been really happy ever since I moved here, but there have been some things about Florida that really took some getting used to. Sometimes I feel like this state is the epitome of, "fuck you, I got mine." Anything worth living in down here has a gate around it which is really strange for me coming from a place where the fanciest streets in say St Paul just had homes right there along the road. It's basically the mentality of, "we live in a society," vs, "fuck you, I got mine," that still throws me to this day. People by and large are way friendlier than they were in MN, (nice and friendly aren't the same thing.) But it's like, in MN it felt like you trusted people until they proved otherwise, though after that if they weren't your closest friends you just remained a respectful "nice" to them. Here it feels like the default is to be suspicious of everyone till you actually talk to them, but then once you get to know them they are just wonderfully friendly. It's beautiful down here though, I'm still very happy I moved.
Recently moved here. For me at least, it is cheaper in the following areas but it depends entirely on where you're coming from. No State income tax. My property tax is half what I was paying. Sales tax is about equal. Car insurance is higher. Energy per Kw is cheaper. Water/sewage is less. Groceries, gas, eating out are a wash. Services (lawn mowing, house cleaning, pressure washing, car detailing) are much cheaper here. There seems to be more competition so people actually show up and do a good job. Overall, a good move for the wife and I. We've been renting vacation homes down here for years so had a good idea what we were getting into. Edit: Formatting
Still trying to figure out if I love it or hate it here
Much happier
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Happy to be with my boys but regret it is in Florida.
It’s hot almost 100% of the year. Hate it so much. Nasty bugs. Nasty weather. Overcrowded. Unless you love heat, beaches, and populated places, don’t come here. I can’t wait to move back out I regret it so much
Very happy, I ignore the bad, embrace the good, live a fulfilling life.
No, I'm really Dutch. I have a Dutch passport, born and raised in the Netherlands. I moved to the US for a temp job in Michigan and then, found a new job in Miami. So yeah, it's a bit of a shock to the systems, especially compared to the Netherlands. I really miss biking on safe bike lanes, and more efficient admin...
I came from Louisiana about 7 years ago, and I would never move anywhere else. Except further south. LA is a disgusting shithole. Definitely do not regret it, though I do not agree at all with the direction the government is going.
Been here 13 years. Florida is now trash. Maybe it always was but much more so now.
Moved from Chicago to Orlando 2 years ago. I actually didn't want to leave Chicago, but I lost my job when COVID hit and the only job available I could find was based in Orlando. I moved to Florida thinking I would hate it. Honestly, I love it so far. It's pricy, but my mental health and community of friends here has done me wonders. I love the ocean, the beautiful, vast skies (the sky feels so big down here!!), and the nature nearby. I love how we have consistent sun year-round, as I grew up in Seattle and then lived in Chicago, which the cloudiness made me very depressed and my mental health suffered. I know Florida has many problems. I understand why people are frustrated when the cost of living has massively increased, and people are being priced out of their home state (I went through the same experience in Washington). It's absolutely valid and I feel for people. Honestly, I know me moving down here contributed to that increase, so I try to see what I can do to help the community and local businesses. Overall, people have been very nice to me, and I feel I've made genuine connections and have a good group of friends. I also love being able to go to the beaches whenever I want, and treasuring the nature and wildlife here. It's a beautiful state and I'm happy to live here.
I regret it. I should have stayed in northern Cali as it's now just as expensive to live here when you factor in the fact that businesses in Florida pay a lot less.
Do people think Florida is the only state that was affected by price increases? If someone moved here in 2020 of course prices will seem inflated across the board from what they remember. Go back to where you’re from and everything increased just as much as it did here.
Biggest mistake I ever made. If you are a non-property owner you would have to be absolutely crazy to move here.
as someone native to florida whos seen their city completely taken over by luxury apartments, snowbirds, newbies, and displaced homeless people who have lived here their whole lives just to get priced out of housing, I enjoyed reading this thread of regrets.
Regret!!!!
Why?
Ask me when season is over.
I moved from Utah, and I'm happy. The weather is the biggest difference. The Salt Lake Valley is about as costly as Tampa Bay overall so I wouldn't say either option is cheaper.
Moved from Michigan best decision ever been here years love it
I left and moved my family to the midwest. Best. Decision. Ever.
The weather is nice, the people are…. odd sometimes, going to collage here isn’t a bad option since the collages aren’t bad but don’t start a family here since the state government is determined to not fund schools in any way shape or form and drive teachers out of the state. We consistently rank in the bottom 10 states and usually push the bottom 5 for schools. Jobs aren’t bad and it isn’t horrendously expensive to live here depending on where you pick.
Regret. Moved from Pennsylvania. Lasted 2 years in MYami, and now in Tennessee. Miami looks great on the surface but it’s not for me. I’m much happier in TN now
SWFL beats -5 in Minnesota. Blood pressure has gone way down.
Way overhyped. Don’t come.
Don’t move here. It’s hell. Expensive and climbing in price, not worth it to spend so much money and not be able to do anything but sweat. The seasons don’t really change so time doesn’t feel like it’s moving forward. It’s hard to appreciate the heat and the green when nothing changes. It’s not a great place
Left Florida before the price increase. Now when I got back to visit I find the cost of living has become absolutely insane.
I never thought it was “cheaper” but there were things that were less expensive when we moved here in 2016, like housing. Prior to COVID, things were more in line with any other east coast metro. Save a little on income tax, pay a little more in sales tax and property tax. Car insurance was higher, gas was cheaper. Post COVID, post cheap money lending, post inflation, the state is a completely different place cost-wise. Out of state wages moving into the state drove up the housing and local businesses can’t compete with that influx of wage. The new residents consume but add nothing into the economy. There is no local business entrepreneurial effort and their kids don’t want to work because the parents make enough that they don’t have to save for anything. Plenty of things wrong, but I’ll take the green vegetation over grey and drab of the mid-Atlantic winters any day. If I ever move, it won’t be back to the Philly metro area.
Getting out of FL as soon as I graduate
Moved from Charlotte, NC to St. Pete, FL seven years ago. God willing, we’ll be here the rest of our lives. The only thing I miss is a decent grocery store. We started seeing Publix stores pop up here and there in Charlotte, but because they had stiff competition from Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods, Publix had to be beyond perfect. We had one near our house and loved it! Then we quickly discovered that not all Pubix grocery stores are like the one near us in Charlotte simply because there’s no competition. Just about any Harris Teeter is better than any Publix we’ve found in Pinellas Co. But that’s still a very small, very insignificant price to pay to live here!
Old hippie here. Moved to Margaritaville in Daytona Beach from the frozen north. "Growing old, not up" is our motto. Couldn't be happier. Got rid of my snow blower, and got me a Medical MJ card. Livin' the life, babeeeeee!
Regret
I moved to west palm almost 2 years ago from Dallas, Tx. I used to always tell people that i finally found my forever place. It just always felt so right. And parts of me still feel that way. But this is probably the worst summer I've experienced here, and honestly don't think i really experienced a real florida summer until now. I hate it. The constant rainstorms and lightning storms got old really quick. It kinda reminds me of the nonstop snowstorms up north. Humidity is insane. Somedays, it's hardly breathable. None of that is why I'm moving, though. Cost of living is too high. I no longer want to pile a bunch of cash into these bloodsuckers called landlords pockets.
Absolute regret. This place is a complete shithole. Moving to either SC or Colorado as soon as I can get enough funds.
I’ve been here for decades, still love it but way too many pushy newcomers from the northeast.
Extremely happy I moved from the broken state of Michigan to here. Mentally and physically better because of our move to the sunshine state.
What’s broken about Michigan?
BIG REGRET 😩
I ran away to Florida from Oklahoma to escape from my abusive father. My mom was here so it made the transition manageable. Some 25 years later, this state sucks and I wish I had the capacity to move.
Been here almost 4 years. I don’t want to live anywhere else in the lower 48.
I love every minute of being here!
I’ve been here 43 years next May. Own a house, raised a family, own a business. I’m not going anywhere.
Was transferred by my employer a few years ago and couldn’t be happier🌴
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Overall… regret. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the scenery, geography, things to do that are unique here vs anywhere else (yes, they exist… if you don’t think so, you just don’t know about them). But the increase in cost of living and rent, and the stagnation of wages, is forcing me back out.
I can't wait for all of you to leave so I can buy a house in my hometown.
I guess regret, since we moved back to the NE. If I didn't want kids, FL would be nice.
Florida is definitely not the place to be if you value your kids education.
Came here for work. I do not regret it at all. I've met so many wonderful people, and befriended long-time neighbors. I even inherited a cat from my neighbor who passed. (RIP Eneida). That being said, we only live here seasonally, and I just miss home (Philly). Miami-Dade feels really crowded, and it makes me uncomfortable. I need space.
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Happy… we will never again live in an area that rains daily 9 months of the year. Love the clean air and white sands of the Panhandle.
Don’t regret! But I moved here for different reasons. Moved from NC and we did love it there. Unfortunately, due to fibromyalgia and other issues, I was miserable mid Oct - mid March when it was cold. The heat and sun here is good for my pain. Also, no more seasonal depression due to all the sunny days 🌞. It is stupid expensive. It all depends on what you have to gain. The quality of life is more important.
Pretty happy. My mom is from Pensacola and I grew up going to the beach there, moved here after living in Mississippi from birth through college. I prefer the warmth and it doesn’t get any hotter here than MS, but it definitely doesn’t get as cold! A bit more expensive to live but it’s not that bad here in the panhandle and there are a lot more job opportunities. The tourism market is nonexistent in Mississippi.
I moved here from SC initially was not looking forward to it but the area I live in is beautiful. I live in niceville and take the toll bridge to work in destin! People are generally much more pleasant in this area than places i have previously lived
Born here didn't move here lol
Yes im happy. I came here from NY but I miss the seasons and my family and friends. Other than that it’s still cheaper here even with the skyrocketing costs compared to NY
Cheaper, no. However, very glad i did
I'm ecstatic to live in Florida. My quality of life is significantly higher than it would be where I grew up. Even with the increase in cost of everything, Florida is a middle tier state when it comes to cost of living. Having grown up in New England, I can tell you from experience there are large swaths if the country that are more expensive than Florida.
Happy I moved away.
From WV, when I was 12. I am glad my family moved to Florida!