Pensacola vs Fort Lauderdale (live, cost, better, places)

[littletraveller]

Which Florida city is better? We are comparing

Natural beauty
Entertainment/things to do
Cost of living
Nightlife
Food
Culture
Better future

Note we are not including the Miami or Palm Beach areas for Fort Lauderdale.

[kidyankee764]

Natural beauty - Pensacola
Entertainment/things to do - Fort Lauderdale
Cost of living - Pensacola
Nightlife - Fort Lauderdale
Food - Fort Lauderdale
Culture - Fort Lauderdale
Better future - Fort Lauderdale

For me, it’s Fort Lauderdale all the way.

[SEAandATL]

For natural beauty and cost of living, Pensacola. For the other categories especially entertainment and night, Fort Lauderdale. Culture is a tie depending on how you define it, South Florida or Gulf Coast/mini-New Orleans (more than just "Lower Alabama"). P-Cola also has some good sea food.

[SonySegaTendo617]

I'm sure Ft. Lauderdale isn't bad, but to me I suspect I'd pick Pensacola of these 2. Since the older I get, the more I quietly want to live in areas with a little less population. Also closer proximity to central Georgia(where I have family) and Tallahassee(also have family there), would make me prefer Pensacola. On a side note it isn't too far from Mobile and New Orleans, which also would be nice.

[Shakeesha]

Natural beauty: Pensacola
Entertainment/things to do: Ft.Lauderdale
Cost of living: Pensacola
Nightlife: Ft. Lauderdale
Food: Ft. Lauderdale
Culture: Ft. Lauderdale
Better future: Ft. Lauderdale

I like both areas but Ft. Lauderdale is my choice. I believe that Pensacola has improved over the years and is undercounted often. Both are easy cities to visit or live in.

[EscAlaMike]

Natural beauty - Pensacola. The beaches are basically a draw; but once you go inland, the panhandle is more scenic with its farms, forests, and hills.
Entertainment/things to do - Definitely Fort Lauderdale just because it's way bigger
Cost of living - Pensacola
Nightlife - Fort Lauderdale
Food - Draw. Pensacola is better if you prefer down home/hole-in-the-wall type places, but Ft Lauderdale offers much more high end dining opportunities
Culture - Unsure. Both cities are quite transient.
Better future - Hard to say. Both are pretty stable economically.

[Spade]

Natural beauty - Pensacola
Entertainment/things to do - Fort Lauderdale
Cost of living - Pensacola
Nightlife - Fort Lauderdale
Food - Fort Lauderdale slightly
Culture - Tie
Better future - Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale overall.

[march2]

I lived on Central FL at one time and loved it. But I wasn't fond of SoFL at all. Not Crazy about NW FL either. But I prefer Pensacola to Ft. Lauderdale. It's more affordable, more relaxing, the residents are much friendlier, and most people there seem more happy with life.

[nep321]

I like both cities for different reasons. Pensacola is more laid back and I think the scenery is nicer. But I prefer the more progressive, diverse culture of Fort Lauderdale and the winter weather.

[kemahkami]

I find it quite interesting how the natural scenery preference so far has gravitated towards Pensacola. The winters are much too cold in Pensacola to grow the abundant tropical vegetation, including coconuts, that thrive all over Ft. Lauderdale.