[Michelle9088]

Hi! I wanted some feedback on some of the best places to live in Florida, something that's not expensive but also a neighborhood that is safe. I've heard some things about Fort Myers, Tampa, Gainesville, and Bradenton- but I don't think Bradenton would be a good candidate because it's expensive.... low crime but expensive. I'm moving from New Jersey and moving already, is super expensive. I'm not looking for luxury, just a decent place to live. Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated

[Miss Hepburn]

I looked along all the beaches and went 30-40 minutes inland ...
amazing the $60-80,000 homes available.
I was thinking of wintering down there...so wasn't very fussy.
You didn't say your age...Gainesville is nice bec of the college, for sure....
but hot!
But if you are 70...that's different.
Unlike NJ, you can have a gun easily there...for home safety.

[Michelle9088]

Thank you for the feedback! I'm 39 and I'm also looking for employment in different areas of Florida, because NJ is pretty pricey if you live in Newport, Hoboken.

[Michelle9088]

I'm really looking for an area that has reasonable rents ( $500 -600 for a 1 bedroom), close to a mall. I keep hearing a lot of things about Florida some bad, some good. I really want to look at an area that has some job growth, relatively safe (not where I turn a corner and there's some sort of crime going down)! But hopefully I find something..

[DreamingofSunshine]

Low cost and safe typically don't go together. See where you can find a job and go from there.

[Michelle9088]

That is so sad that it's so true! You can't (well hardly EVER) find an affordable place to live without it being in a crazy neighborhood.

[OpinionInOcala]

$500-$600/month is going to leave you in undesirable areas throughout the overwhelming majority of the state, unfortunately.

[kyle19125]

Unsure of why, but there seems to be a trend of people posting here on the Florida forum thinking that they're going to move here and live on the cheap. Believe it or not the cost of living is either at or above the national average on expenditures such as housing, food, gas, utilities, insurance and other expenses, so I'm not sure where the implication of "cheaper living" is coming from. As stated already, $500-$600 a month for rent is going to place one in a fairly ghetto-like apartment which wouldn't appear to be the intent. If one wants a lower cost of living with rent that low in desirable areas (and warmer weather) look at states like GA and SC.

[Michelle9088]

Thank you all for your feedback! I think I'll visit, see if it works and check out other area's like the states mentioned.

[8to32characters]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Unsure of why, but there seems to be a trend of people posting here on the Florida forum thinking that they're going to move here and live on the cheap. Believe it or not the cost of living is either at or above the national average on expenditures such as housing, food, gas, utilities, insurance and other expenses, so I'm not sure where the implication of "cheaper living" is coming from. As stated already, $500-$600 a month for rent is going to place one in a fairly ghetto-like apartment which wouldn't appear to be the intent. If one wants a lower cost of living with rent that low in desirable areas (and warmer weather) look at states like GA and SC.

Probably because most people from the Northeast under age 50 or so such as the OP have in their minds that Florida is some low-cost "paradise." This ideal is usually acquired from their parents and grandparents whose ideals of Florida living align more closely with 1980 Florida, not 2015 Florida.

In the smaller, more parochial cities of the Northeast, where people don't travel much and don't stray too far from home, there are lots of outdated Florida stereotypes thrown around. I still encounter this periodically among family members and old friends from the Northeast.

After all, Grandma bought her condo in Boca for $30k in 1978.