[SCPJP]

Hello All,

After years of finally trying to land a job in FL, I finally got an offer. The job comes with a starting salary of about 75k. So here is my question....Is 75k a good enough income to support a family? The location of the job is still up for debate because there are openings literally all over FL, so I can choose the "area" of FL where I would like to live. I am partial to the West Palm, Orlando, Tampa areas (not really into Jax or Miami). It would be my wife and I, and our daughter. Hopefully we can have at least 1 more baby as well, but for now its just the three of us. So is 75k good enough in those areas? I will probably be renting for a year or so, while the wife finishes her degree, and then we would probably look to buy. So what do you think Floridians...Is it enough to live a comfortable life?

[flyboytampabay]

Tampa and Orlando have lower housing costs.

[Restrain]

You might want to consider the Sarasota area. Has good schools, reasonable housing and living costs (if you don't get in Duke Energy service area)

[Crane's Rooster]

I would say your money stretches further in Tampa, Orlando than W. Palm in that order. Tampa and Orlando are fairly comparable but I would say W. Palm is noticeably more expensive than the other two. After that it's just matter of preference, coast v. central part of the state, etc. It's not alot of money, but you can live comfortably in these two metro areas on that salary.

[projectmaximus]

You can easily live comfortably in Jax on that income. But since you don't like Jax I would think Orlando is the next best bet for good QOL with low COL. If you're fiscally wise you'll be fine.

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by flyboytampabay

Tampa and Orlando have lower housing costs.

Agree!

[jghorton]

$75K is "enough" to live in Central Florida for many people, but, not enough for others. It's not a matter of how much you make, but, how much you spend. There are a number of cost of living calculators online that will let you compare your current location with other cities.

Cost of living: How far will my salary go in another city? - CNNMoney

Florida cities are widely diverse -- You will be happier if you first focus on where you really want to live (amenities, weather, beach proximity, schools, entertainment, transportation, etc) ... and then figure-out how to make $75K work there. We lived in Central Florida for almost 40-years (Tampa, Kissimmee and Satellite Beach and now Destin). I would move back to Satellite Beach in a heartbeat ... if the grandkids lived there!

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by SCPJP

Hello All,

After years of finally trying to land a job in FL, I finally got an offer. The job comes with a starting salary of about 75k. So here is my question....Is 75k a good enough income to support a family? The location of the job is still up for debate because there are openings literally all over FL, so I can choose the "area" of FL where I would like to live. I am partial to the West Palm, Orlando, Tampa areas (not really into Jax or Miami). It would be my wife and I, and our daughter. Hopefully we can have at least 1 more baby as well, but for now its just the three of us. So is 75k good enough in those areas? I will probably be renting for a year or so, while the wife finishes her degree, and then we would probably look to buy. So what do you think Floridians...Is it enough to live a comfortable life?

If you can downsize your expectations from what is probably your current living conditions (i.e. down to a two/three bedroom apartment/condominium, or even a 3/2 townhouse) it shouldn't be an issue. I would urge you to focus on more family-friendly areas with good schools (whether your daughter is school-age or not) as there are a good number of areas you wouldn't want to place your family into in terms of rental communities. I would suggest if leaning toward Tampa to check out areas like Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, East Lake, Countryside (NE Clearwater) and Westchase (NW Tampa) which are convenient to much of Tampa in terms of a commute and very family-friendly. In the Orlando area check out the NE suburbs of Lake Mary/Sanford, Oviedo and Winter Springs (east side around Tuscawilla).

[StreetSmarts]

Depends on your expenses. If I were single I'd be fine on that, but with a family, I couldn't. But we have a ton of expenses so we need to make about $120-125k a yr as a family of 4.

I'd pick Jax between the places you mentioned, but I agree, Miami would definitely be of my list too. So would West Palm Bch.

Look into Oviedo and Winter Springs, and also Lake Mary in the Orlando area. These are the three safest, more tight-knit communities.

[SCPJP]

My number one priority is definitely schools. Coming from CT, where education is really the only positive about the state, I want to make sure that when my daughter is ready to go to school, she be in an A-rated school. I definitely won't budge on that. If i have to live in a shack, just to be able to afford private schooling, then that's a sacrifice that I will have to make. Finding an A-rated public school district would be preferred.

As far as expenses go (other than utilities, groceries, gas, etc. ), I currently have 2 car payments (which are very close to being paid off), and a few thousand left in student loans. I will also have to find a good daycare/preschool for my daughter. How much does good childcare cost in FL? I am currently paying $350 a week here in CT.

My main reason for leaving the state is taxes. Everyone property taxes just doubled and I am now paying $18k a year in property taxes, and that doesn't include car taxes which is currently another $1300 a year. We are even being taxed every time is rains! They tax us on using the street drains when it rains! It's unreal. It's impossible to live in CT comfortably, unless your making over $200k. No wonder why CT is the number 2 state in the country for residents fleeing the state.