Lookin for inexpensive rent in the Tampa Bay area (Miami: 2015, apartment)

[cjairo191]

Some salty people here. But yeah Big city USA comes with typical Big city problems. I think there are more positives than negatives here, but in general, being on a tight(low) budget in the big central and south Florida cities can be rough. South Florida taken the cake on that.

[Vinny Lugo]

Originally Posted by HWTechGuy

Car insurance is not cheap here. Be prepared...

I will have 6k in student loans coming to me in October. I am just not worried about it. I know a good mechanic out there that can check out some used cars. I plan to buy a car outright and just pay PIP and liability.

Originally Posted by PDF

If $800 a month for rent is stretching it (which would still cause you to live in a far out area), and you will have to work two jobs to survive, then how is that any different from your life now in Chicago?

This is what you do not get living in Florida. The taxes in Chicago are SKY HIGH! The wages here are just about the same as I was paying in Florida, just about a dollar more an hour. However, we have the highest sales tax in the country in Chicago. It is a whopping 10.25% sales tax here. Then, out of each check, a state, local, and Chicago tax is taken out of each check. Oh and the state tax was 3.75% but they just raised it to 5% so that will soon be reflected in my checks. Right now about 16% to 18% of my check is taken out in taxes before I even touch it. However, soon 17 to 20% of my check will be gone before I touch it. So about 1/5 of my check is gone before I even touch it.

Not only that, but you can never go out and have fun here ever. Every time you go out it is unGodly expensive and I have priced it and it's a lot cheaper to go out in Tampa. Oh and did I mention that there is also a tax on groceries, food, water, and recently soda. Oh yes, now any sugared drink you buy will be taxed at 1 cent per ounce of each drink you get.

Oh and going back to having fun, most of the cool places are located downtown in what they call the loop but in the loop everything you get is taxed at a higher rate. So instead of paying 10.25% sales tax, you pay 11.25% sales tax for everything downtown. Taxes have literally increased by 30% in just 2017 alone.

Originally Posted by LKJ1988

Tnc has turned into little Cuba and is gang banger land.

Dude I live in Chicago. FACT: Chicago has more gangs than any other city in the United States. There are an estimated 150000 gang members in Chicago. Also, about 800 people were shot and killed in 2016. Literally thousands were shot. It can't be much worse than where I am now.

Originally Posted by paradiselost

Seriously ! If you are looking for affordable do not look at Tampa Bay metro no longer. If this is a point of reference the Apartment Complex I moved to in Largo (Pinellas County) in 2001 was 500 a month for one bedroom and it was very quiet a lot of older people. I was 25 at the time and probably the youngest person out of any my neighbors. The Same exact Complex in 2017 with no upgrades is 1000 a month. Also had a few shootings this year, and of course buildings got older by 16 years and its now ghetto, but 500 dollars more! Also insurances have skyrocketed over the last 5-10 years.

The only thing that increased in the Tampa area since 2001 is the criminal element, homelessness ,the tourist traps, traffic and the cost of living! Lived in Both Hillsborough and pinellas over 15 years and moved out last summer. Best thing I ever did. You can say I am being negative. But Just being honest!

To be honest, I am looking more at St. Petersburg right now than Tampa.

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by Vinny Lugo

I will have 6k in student loans coming to me in October. I am just not worried about it. I know a good mechanic out there that can check out some used cars. I plan to buy a car outright and just pay PIP and liability.



This is what you do not get living in Florida. The taxes in Chicago are SKY HIGH! The wages here are just about the same as I was paying in Florida, just about a dollar more an hour. However, we have the highest sales tax in the country in Chicago. It is a whopping 10.25% sales tax here. Then, out of each check, a state, local, and Chicago tax is taken out of each check. Oh and the state tax was 3.75% but they just raised it to 5% so that will soon be reflected in my checks. Right now about 16% to 18% of my check is taken out in taxes before I even touch it. However, soon 17 to 20% of my check will be gone before I touch it. So about 1/5 of my check is gone before I even touch it.

Not only that, but you can never go out and have fun here ever. Every time you go out it is unGodly expensive and I have priced it and it's a lot cheaper to go out in Tampa. Oh and did I mention that there is also a tax on groceries, food, water, and recently soda. Oh yes, now any sugared drink you buy will be taxed at 1 cent per ounce of each drink you get.

Oh and going back to having fun, most of the cool places are located downtown in what they call the loop but in the loop everything you get is taxed at a higher rate. So instead of paying 10.25% sales tax, you pay 11.25% sales tax for everything downtown. Taxes have literally increased by 30% in just 2017 alone.



Dude I live in Chicago. FACT: Chicago has more gangs than any other city in the United States. There are an estimated 150000 gang members in Chicago. Also, about 800 people were shot and killed in 2016. Literally thousands were shot. It can't be much worse than where I am now.



To be honest, I am looking more at St. Petersburg right now than Tampa.

I don't know a thing about chicager just that i would hate it there.

[Tac-Sea]

Try Ocala, it's more rural, but you can drive to Tampa to meet women. Rent in Ocala will be much cheaper.

Have you considered getting a room mate?

[PDF]

Originally Posted by Vinny Lugo

This is what you do not get living in Florida. The taxes in Chicago are SKY HIGH! The wages here are just about the same as I was paying in Florida, just about a dollar more an hour. However, we have the highest sales tax in the country in Chicago. It is a whopping 10.25% sales tax here. Then, out of each check, a state, local, and Chicago tax is taken out of each check. Oh and the state tax was 3.75% but they just raised it to 5% so that will soon be reflected in my checks. Right now about 16% to 18% of my check is taken out in taxes before I even touch it. However, soon 17 to 20% of my check will be gone before I touch it. So about 1/5 of my check is gone before I even touch it.

Not only that, but you can never go out and have fun here ever. Every time you go out it is unGodly expensive and I have priced it and it's a lot cheaper to go out in Tampa. Oh and did I mention that there is also a tax on groceries, food, water, and recently soda. Oh yes, now any sugared drink you buy will be taxed at 1 cent per ounce of each drink you get.

Oh and going back to having fun, most of the cool places are located downtown in what they call the loop but in the loop everything you get is taxed at a higher rate. So instead of paying 10.25% sales tax, you pay 11.25% sales tax for everything downtown. Taxes have literally increased by 30% in just 2017 alone.

My family grew up in Chicago, I used to live in Florida, and I have lived in cities with higher taxes than Chicago. But I guess I don't get it.

I stand by my earlier advice.

[cfbs2691]

I know someone who lives in Largo in a tiny one bedroom apartment in a not so good neighborhood.
(I've never been to it.)

It's $750/month and according to this person the complex is mostly people on section 8 and/or have drinking/drug problems.
Because of that he said it's a pretty depressing place to live, but if that sounds like something you'd consider OP, I can try and find out the name of the complex.

Keep in mind if you're on a mission to "pick up girls"... living in an undesirable area is going to have a direct effect on your options of girls.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by cfbs2691

Keep in mind if you're on a mission to "pick up girls"... living in an undesirable area is going to have a direct effect on your options of girls.

I was going to comment on that. Even living in an area that's far out but desirable would have a direct effect. And not in a good way.

[paradiselost]

The area I mentioned is Largo, Pinellas County which is St Petersburg metro. I would try northern Florida. Most of Central and Southern Florida are getting out of reach with pricing and are getting much too crowded, due to the national as well as worldwide retirement and Millennial demand.
It dont help the urban planning is terrible in Tampa Bay which includes St Pete and the two urban counties Hillsborough and Pinellas are connected mostly by 10 mile plus Bridges.



Some Medium Sized City areas with still alot of goods and services but not too pricey yet with better urban planning I would consider would be Deland/Deltona, Ormond Beach/Palm Coast, Saint Augustine, Ocala ( Away from the Villages), Titusville/Mims, Melbourne/ Palm Bay, Vero Beach/Sebastian, Gainesville or Tallahassee.

[mermaid sees all]

Originally Posted by Pragmaticus

Check Town N Country close to Independent Park Way. There are few that may fit your need. I would also check Citrus Park, if you can find one.

Best of luck!

Living in Town & Country currently and it is really noisy 24/7 especially off of Hillsborough. Light sleepers might want to look elsewhere.

[Vinny Lugo]

Originally Posted by Tac-Sea

Try Ocala, it's more rural, but you can drive to Tampa to meet women. Rent in Ocala will be much cheaper.

Have you considered getting a room mate?

Yeah man that's a whopping hour and 30 minute drive from Tampa. Yeah that's WAY too far.

Originally Posted by PDF

My family grew up in Chicago, I used to live in Florida, and I have lived in cities with higher taxes than Chicago. But I guess I don't get it.

I stand by my earlier advice.

1) The sales tax was not 10.25% when you lived here.

2) The rent has gone up significantly.

3) Chicago was the most exited city in the entire US in both 2015 and in 2016. Everyone is leaving here unless you are a gang member or unless you are rich.

4) Taxes have gone up 30% in 2017 alone.

Originally Posted by cfbs2691

I know someone who lives in Largo in a tiny one bedroom apartment in a not so good neighborhood.
(I've never been to it.)

It's $750/month and according to this person the complex is mostly people on section 8 and/or have drinking/drug problems.
Because of that he said it's a pretty depressing place to live, but if that sounds like something you'd consider OP, I can try and find out the name of the complex.

Keep in mind if you're on a mission to "pick up girls"... living in an undesirable area is going to have a direct effect on your options of girls.

Yeah I thought about that too. I probably won't live directly in Tampa, and will most likely live in St. Petersburg or a suburb of Tampa. You are right, I can't live in a lousy area.