Possible move from Boise, will raise be worth it? (Jacksonville: rent, car insurance)

[internallydeluded]

Currently in Boise and may have an opportunity to move to Jacksonville. Hopefully I would be getting around an $8-$13,000 raise. My wife would still have to find a job, but currently only makes about $25,000/year so hopefully she can at least find something to match or better that. Combined we make about $65,000 now and I assume we would be around $75,000 with the move.

We have two girls ages 5 and 7 so safety and good schools are a priority for me. I'm excited to always be near a beach and have the opportunity to take the kids to Disney and all the stuff in the area I would otherwise not be able to afford to do. But we are also trying to pay off about $100,000 in debt so I'm hoping we will be able to find somewhere affordable to live that's not in a crime-ridden terrible school area.

Currently we pay about $800/per month in rent and average around $250 on utilities. I and am also hoping to have a commute of less than 30 minutes. We could make a 2 bedroom work but would prefer something with 2 bathrooms and a yard.

Any thoughts on finding something like that with a housing budget similar to what we have now? I've seen several ads on Craigslist that look like they would be good, but it's hard to tell if they are in a good area, what the commute time and utilities would look like.

I'd be willing to move even if we could break even from where we are at now. Idaho schools are not great and we aren't living in the best location right now so I feel like even a similar situation in Jacksonville would be a step up. But I'm also worried all the other cost of living increases like insurance and food may make my raise not even matter or make our budget even worse than it is now. Hopefully my wife could make more money in Orlando too, but I can't count on that. She has a degree in healthcare administration, but no real experience other than entry-level and can't seem to move up.

[jwolfer]

What part of Jacksonville would the job be in?

Healthcare admin work would be with one of the hospitals most likely so you have Baptist, UF Health and St Vincent's with presence downtown, Mayo toward the beach and Memorial Hospital on Southside and Orange Park Medical Center, a branch of St Vincent's and Baptist in Clay County. And the Navy Hospital at NAS Jacksonville.

Good luck

[projectmaximus]

Hmm, it's hard not knowing Boise well enough to compare the types of areas you're talking about.

$800/month can get you an ok 3/2 home in a working class decently safe area. But good schools will be tricky. Being near the beach will be tricky. Depending on your work location, a 30 minute commute could be tricky. Even an increase to $1000 should open up many more options, but youre still gonna need to do some work (and get lucky) to find everything you're looking for.

Jax is generally a very low COL area and does indeed put you close to the beach and Disney, so it certainly could offer some of what you're seeking. FYI there is plenty of healthcare administration work in Jax. Where is your work going to be?

[internallydeluded]

Living near the beach isn't too important. Good schools, safety and manageable commute are. I would be working near Everbank field downtown.

[Florida2014]

Jacksonville is not known for their schools either so that is likely either a lateral move or, more likely, a step down. Have you considered what it will cost to pack up and move across the country? For us it was around $10 to $12k all in so there goes your raise in year one.

But for me it always comes back to this - you only live once and personally I'd rather make the move and roll the dice vs sitting idle and wondering "what if?"

[snuffybear]

Sounds like a good move to me...there is upside...this is a growing area and seem to be lots of jobs in healthcare. I don't know how competitive it is to get the jobs, but there are lots of hospitals and even Mayo Clinic here.

I think the biggest hurdle may be relocation costs...would your company pay for that?

Also...Jax imo is cheaper (and less stressful) than Orlando. I'd only go to Orlando if making more $.

[internallydeluded]

I can probably get a couple thousand towards moving costs. And Idaho is ranked one of the worst states for schools, Florida is somewhere in the middle so hopefully it will be a step up in that area. I'm mostly concerned about all the little cost of living differences that I can't really research well online like groceries, utilities, insurance, etc...

[JacksonvilleNative]

Do you know the location of your job? Sorry if I missed it. That will help nail down a neighborhood. Also do you prefer Urban or Suburban? That too will help.

With the increase in salary you expect (even on the low side) you should have no problem meeting your housing/utilities cost.

Even living in the extreme westside of Jacksonville you are a 45 min or less drive from the ocean, you can go as often as you can.

hope it works out

[hornsch]

No FL state income tax helps with increase in other items that tend to be higher in FL (at least it was for my family)- car insurance, water/utilities bill, etc.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by hornsch

No FL state income tax helps with increase in other items that tend to be higher in FL (at least it was for my family)- car insurance, water/utilities bill, etc.

I found that the increase in auto insurance rates sort of canceled out my increase in pay without state income taxes being taken from my check. Sticker shock, for sure.