[markhunt]

I've been making the calls for renters insurance in anticipation of my move back to CT in a few months.

My renters insurance now is just under $300.00/year here in FL.

In CT the same policy with the same company will drop to $129.00/year.

I have GEICO here in FL and for me being a Berkshire Hathaway employee and safe driver I get a discount so my rates here are decent at around $100.00/month. However, no longer receiving the Berkshire Hathaway discount in CT the rates will still be about the same anyway.

The biggest savings hands down though will be the $20,000\year I won't have to shell out to send my children to private school down here!!!

BTW, my father in law lives in a small town in inland CT and pays $1900.00\year property taxes on a $200,000 home, and $300.00\year on homeowners insurance. When I owned my home here in Polk County I was paying $2400.00\year in taxes on a home valued at $180,000 and $900.00\year for homeowners insurance.

[Prodigit]

I love the weather in FL, except for the hot summers. But economically Miami dade is a bad place to live.
For visit it is great for a week or two. But not really a place to return to, apart from the weather.
Really, there's hardly anything in Miami dade. One or two musea, a few beaches (they say sand and sea look alike everywhere you go), and if you're lucky you can visit the amusement parks in Orlando.
But that's about it!
the forests are too far away from the cities, everything is so spread out, it's hard to see everything in one week, and enjoy.
Places like hialeah and Miami have too many houses without green... etc...
I'd say South Florida is not really interesting to visit, but with better economical times would be a great place to live!

[TANaples]

Our GPS took us through Gainesville on our way back last weekend. I lived there in 1971. The only thing I recognized was the electricity station. Sidewalks? Developments? Malls? Fast Food?

It was so much more RURAL back then.

[bdpop]

Interesting article from the Orlando Business Journal:

Report: Florida ‘a state in trouble’ - Orlando Business Journal:

[ZaraZoteBuccaneer]

Originally Posted by lolabonita00

I have to say I am quite surprised at the cost of living difference between here in rural MN and Florida, where we are considering moving to. The wages on every website I have checked, from Monster to the local classifieds to Craigslist to individual websites such as Florida Hospital... pay is the same. But the rent is double. The housing prices are the same, for the same sort of cookie-cutter houses... property taxes are about 4 times higher and holy crap, I called Geico and asked for a quote. I said, "Give me exactly what I have now, but change my zip code" and my car insurance (on a 2007 Dodge Caliber) DOUBLED.

So what's with that? Is it the economy, or is it the way FL has always been? High cost of living and low wages?

You've got to be kidding me. I'm moving from MN too and I don't agree one bit. I find jobs paying slightly higher than the twin cities, housing 30% less and not just cookie cutter developments, I'm talking 3000 sq ft custom homes, insurance is higher sure but you need to watch for things like elevation and proximity to water to keep the rates down, county taxes are different based on location (some counties totally rock with good conservative values) sales and income taxes in general are structured much closer to the way they should be nation-wide, You might have me on the car rates I really haven't looked yet but drive an '06 Dodge Charger so we'll see... schools have WAY MORE choices and opportunity than the biased public education dominion up here (and I say that as a parent and a founder of a charter school). Maybe groceries are higher cost by about 10% but the quality and establishments are better in my opinon, plus I plan on growing some of my own or going to farmer's markets.... not something I can do year-round in MN...
I dunno where in MN you're coming from or where specifically you're going to but I really don't see any of it like you say. I'm going to be saving quite a bit of money by living in Florida. I'm sure you will agree once I start listing all the northern heating and other utilities for our southern friends....

I suggest to stop looking at Monster, Craig's list for jobs as it's not a great place for great employers, I also suggest further researching on cost of living in a wider swath. You know, MN is a bit nicer/easier on others than they are on me - because I actually work pretty darn hard up here in this mixed up place and my wealth is being redistributed to all kinds of social projects way more than I care to see being done. I'm not saying there aren't bad programs in FL and I'm also not trying to be picking on you specifically either lolabonita since I really don't know anything about you - it's just my take on how I'm personally treated up here by our state.

Florida rocks and I can't wait to start keep some more of my hard earned wages. I might actually have a Choice in deciding how my income can help others....

[lolabonita00]

If that's the case, congrats to you! Clearly you work in a better field than I. Enjoy your new and improved homeowner's taxes. I've decided against Florida for that very reason... but I'm sure you've already looked into it. Best of luck!

[joanie55]

I don't know how in the world anyone can think Florida is a good place to live. I live in southeast Florida and the cost of living is high and the wages are low. Plus, most of the jobs here go to minorities for whom English is a second language. And the people? That's the worst part. A bunch of con artists and drug addicts looking to take you for your last dime. If you come from New York you will like it, it's the 6th burrough. You are used to rudeness, others are not. And it IS cheaper than New York. Otherwise, stay clear. I'ved lived in alot of places and this is definately the worst. The only thing to like is the weather and the ocean.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by joanie55

the wages are low.

And what is it that you "do" that you get paid low wages for?

Originally Posted by joanie55

Plus, most of the jobs here go to minorities for whom English is a second language. And the people? That's the worst part. A bunch of con artists and drug addicts looking to take you for your last dime. If you come from New York you will like it, it's the 6th burrough.

I cannot fathom walking around and thinking this all day about the people you meet and encounter.

People who constantly complain about rudeness must exude an energy that attracts same. I have found the people in FL to be no less or more "rude" than anywhere else.

Originally Posted by joanie55

The only thing to like is the weather and the ocean.

I wish they had an smiley of a guy playing the violin.

City-Data is such a pity party sometimes!

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

And what is it that you "do" that you get paid low wages for?



I cannot fathom walking around and thinking this all day about the people you meet and encounter.

People who constantly complain about rudeness must exude an energy that attracts same. I have found the people in FL to be no less or more "rude" than anywhere else.





I wish they had an smiley of a guy playing the violin.

City-Data is such a pity party sometimes!

Hey Trim, I hear ya.

BTW, I'm suspecting there's gotta be some hanging chads with the poll results going with a majority thinking Florida is a great place to visit but not to live!!

I say, let's have a recount...and I suspect a certain poster might be voting more than once !!!! LOL.

j/k, guys..can't we all get along? Florida haters and Florida lovers?

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by joanie55

If you come from New York you will like it, it's the 6th burrough.

LOL!!! Too funny!! I haven't heard that one before!