[expatCA]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You need to understand the difference between Household Income and Median Per Capita Income. Household Income includes the salaries of two or more people in the same home (married or unmarried, roommates..etc) while the Per Capita Income is the average salary per person.

I understand the difference.

Generally single people are younger and their salaries take a while to grow and married couples, even at the low end make enough as a household to do OK. FL is not that bad on a personal level either.


https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/reg...17/spi0317.htm

Florida 2015

9,246 18,785 23,512 27,764 30,446 36,720 37,780 40,344 44,101
Per Capita Personal Income by State

[cfbs2691]

IF I understand the above: it's been said often that in order to survive in South Florida, one person needs to make at least $60K, at the minimum. That's not enough to live a nice life. That's bare bones.
Sooooo

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by cfbs2691

IF I understand the above: it's been said often that in order to survive in South Florida, one person needs to make at least $60K, at the minimum. That's not enough to live a nice life. That's bare bones.
Sooooo

Yes South FL in general is more expensive than other areas, but then again I would not want to live there.

Either an individual or a couple probably need that at a minimum unless they live in a lower COL area of FL. Work is the main issue as the lower cost areas have less work and lower pay. This is pretty much true of all States though, so not unique to FL.

It also depends on what you want. I have friends who lived there and made much less but were happy to live in a 2bdrm trailer in a park in central FL in a small community and did fine. They worked hard, bought just what they really needed and were happy. They moved due to helping a family member in TN. They talk about moving back.

[kyle19125]

"In Florida, the average survival income for a family of four, including an infant and a preschooler, is $53,856 ($26.93 per hour). At this level, families have meager savings, if any, and income is allocated solely for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, taxes and other living expenses.

These are not Cadillac expenditures. Housing is based on fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment. Child care is based on the average cost of home-based care. Food costs are based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan and transportation costs are based on Florida average expenditures. The $400 per month allocated for miscellaneous expenses includes toiletries, cleaning products, clothing and other necessary items that are not included in the other budget areas. The budget also includes out-of-pocket health care costs and taxes, including deductions, exemptions and credits.

Florida is primarily a service economy, so most jobs do not pay well. More than two-thirds of full-time jobs in Florida pay less than $20 per hour. Looking ahead, 82 percent of the new jobs created through 2023 will pay less than $15 per hour. Only one of the 20 most common service occupations pays a wage sufficient for survival (registered nurses earn an average of $29.87 per hour)."

Sunshine is a Poor Substitute for Opportunity: Cost of Living in Florida Puts Fiscal Burden on Struggling ALICE Families | Florida Policy Institute

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

"In Florida, the average survival income for a family of four, including an infant and a preschooler, is $53,856 ($26.93 per hour). At this level, families have meager savings, if any, and income is allocated solely for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, taxes and other living expenses.

These are not Cadillac expenditures. Housing is based on fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment. Child care is based on the average cost of home-based care. Food costs are based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan and transportation costs are based on Florida average expenditures. The $400 per month allocated for miscellaneous expenses includes toiletries, cleaning products, clothing and other necessary items that are not included in the other budget areas. The budget also includes out-of-pocket health care costs and taxes, including deductions, exemptions and credits.

Florida is primarily a service economy, so most jobs do not pay well. More than two-thirds of full-time jobs in Florida pay less than $20 per hour. Looking ahead, 82 percent of the new jobs created through 2023 will pay less than $15 per hour. Only one of the 20 most common service occupations pays a wage sufficient for survival (registered nurses earn an average of $29.87 per hour)."

Sunshine is a Poor Substitute for Opportunity: Cost of Living in Florida Puts Fiscal Burden on Struggling ALICE Families | Florida Policy Institute

Yea, not shocking with the wages. A couple years ago I saw another stat that said 60 percent of the jobs in FL pay $12 or less.

Not shocking why the southern half of Florida they can't find police officers, teachers, government workers with the growing living expenses and my county they pay deputies low.

A lot of people down here work two jobs.

If those stats become accurate by 2023, mostly doctors, lawyers, nurses and successful business owners will be the only ones making real money.

The other problem is many jobs are only part-time now to avoid health insurance, yet they want you available 24/7 and then don't give you many hours, then they get mad when you need to work a second job.

The county I live in here in SWFL has been seeing growth, BUT they have laid off teachers because enrollment is down in the schools due to people with families moving elsewhere due to lack of good paying jobs. To my south they can't find teachers because of the low pay and the cost of housing is so high.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

"In Florida, the average survival income for a family of four, including an infant and a preschooler, is $53,856 ($26.93 per hour). At this level, families have meager savings, if any, and income is allocated solely for housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, taxes and other living expenses.

These are not Cadillac expenditures. Housing is based on fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment. Child care is based on the average cost of home-based care. Food costs are based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan and transportation costs are based on Florida average expenditures. The $400 per month allocated for miscellaneous expenses includes toiletries, cleaning products, clothing and other necessary items that are not included in the other budget areas. The budget also includes out-of-pocket health care costs and taxes, including deductions, exemptions and credits.

Florida is primarily a service economy, so most jobs do not pay well. More than two-thirds of full-time jobs in Florida pay less than $20 per hour. Looking ahead, 82 percent of the new jobs created through 2023 will pay less than $15 per hour. Only one of the 20 most common service occupations pays a wage sufficient for survival (registered nurses earn an average of $29.87 per hour)."

Sunshine is a Poor Substitute for Opportunity: Cost of Living in Florida Puts Fiscal Burden on Struggling ALICE Families | Florida Policy Institute

This is true in the northern metropolises, and most populated areas out on the west coast. Six figure earners can't afford a house in NorCal anywhere close to SF, let alone SF proper.

The better situations are in north and central FL as well as many areas of TX.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

Yea, not shocking with the wages. A couple years ago I saw another stat that said 60 percent of the jobs in FL pay $12 or less.

Not shocking why the southern half of Florida they can't find police officers, teachers, government workers with the growing living expenses and my county they pay deputies low.

A lot of people down here work two jobs.

If those stats become accurate by 2023, mostly doctors, lawyers, nurses and successful business owners will be the only ones making real money.

The other problem is many jobs are only part-time now to avoid health insurance, yet they want you available 24/7 and then don't give you many hours, then they get mad when you need to work a second job.

The county I live in here in SWFL has been seeing growth, BUT they have laid off teachers because enrollment is down in the schools due to people with families moving elsewhere due to lack of good paying jobs. To my south they can't find teachers because of the low pay and the cost of housing is so high.

This is not uncommon in many popular States.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

This is true in the northern metropolises, and most populated areas out on the west coast. Six figure earners can't afford a house in NorCal anywhere close to SF, let alone SF proper.

The better situations are in north and central FL as well as many areas of TX.

True, when you look at the broad State data it does not really reflect every part of a State. There are many ares in FL where a person can live a good life, if he isn't too materialistic, at the State Income level or below. It comes down to the choices we make and many want to own everything and right now. Many of the low paying jobs are entry level and over time they move up and make more and new employees at that lower level come in.

FL is no different than other Popular States and in many cases is better as no State income tax exists at all. The lwoer wage is equal to a higher one in other States.

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by expatCA

There are many ares in FL where a person can live a good life, if he isn't too materialistic, at the State Income level or below.

I do not mean this in an argumentative way.
Where are these areas?
Lauderdale Lakes and Belle Glade?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by cfbs2691

I do not mean this in an argumentative way.
Where are these areas?
Lauderdale Lakes and Belle Glade?

I don't think that drastic but would say in terms of the big cities Jacksonville is probably it. Otherwise places like Tallahassee or Gainesville perhaps.