How much do you need to earn annually to survive in Miami? (Tampa: rentals, insurance)

[Chelito23]

Originally Posted by TXRyan23

According to the latest US Census..

Los Angeles County, CA has a median household income of $56,266.
Miami-Dade County, FL has a median household income of $43,957.

I believe those are the numbers that I'd look at. Basically, if you make a salary of $60k a year in Los Angeles, you're doing better than the average household and if you're making $50k a year in Miami, you're doing better than the average household. If you're attached to a significant other and they too are making $50k, than you have a pretty good lifestyle.

I think it's absolutely insane that someone says they made $300k and that it wasn't enough. That is TRULY a 1st world problem.

Thanks for that. I just wanted to add, many people in Miami get paid in cash, work off the books and under the table. I don't mean to imply drug traffiking or orgranized crime, but think handymen, people with trades or skills, people who have side jobs, people who have a legit day job, but have a degree or experience in another more lucrative field from another country and practice it informally, etc. I suppose it happens everywhere, but there is an enormous "informal" job sector, for a lack of a better word, here. I can't help but wonder if most people reported earning a non-suspicious amount of money and pocketed the rest. That would explain, what seems to me, to be artificialy low median household earnings numbers in Miami. But that is just my impression based off of what I have seen. But for so many households to be earning so little (that implies two separate incomes in about half the households in the county) and most likely with children, it seems a little low to me. I would think it would be closer to the Los Angeles figures. But I may be wrong.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by Calitomiami

In a very desirable area such as miami beach, $50k will get you nothing. Look, the average listing price in south beach right now is $1.6M. That's the AVERAGE. The average income is only around $40k. So clearly this means that the people who own real estate and live comfortably in south beach are not miami residents with employment in miami. To own a reasonably sized home in miami beach (3br/2000 sqft) $300k will fall short. Certainly, to comfortably afford a $1.6M home you need to make at least $500k/yr, and have 30% down. Even then it is unlikely that you will get a loan. These are not extremely luxurious homes when compared to $400k mansions in Texas. They are quite average looking, modest homes by American standards. Location dictates everything, and the difference in price and salary requirements are reflected exponentially between suburbs and major hot spots such as miami beach. Have you looked on trulia lately to see what a million buys you around the middle of south beach? It's pretty depressing.

Again, this thread has NOTHING to do with Miami Beach.

The OP asked how much you need to earn to survive in MIAMI, not Miami Beach. It's like someone asking how much they would need to make to live in Los Angeles and you start quoting Beverly Hills prices.

[Chelito23]

Originally Posted by Calitomiami

In a very desirable area such as miami beach, $50k will get you nothing. Look, the average listing price in south beach right now is $1.6M. That's the AVERAGE. The average income is only around $40k. So clearly this means that the people who own real estate and live comfortably in south beach are not miami residents with employment in miami. To own a reasonably sized home in miami beach (3br/2000 sqft) $300k will fall short. Certainly, to comfortably afford a $1.6M home you need to make at least $500k/yr, and have 30% down. Even then it is unlikely that you will get a loan. These are not extremely luxurious homes when compared to $400k mansions in Texas. They are quite average looking, modest homes by American standards. Location dictates everything, and the difference in price and salary requirements are reflected exponentially between suburbs and major hot spots such as miami beach. Have you looked on trulia lately to see what a million buys you around the middle of south beach? It's pretty depressing.

There are different issues here. Remember, when talking about the mínimum to survive, that doesn't mean buying a decent house or property in a desireable area of the county. There are studios for 700 a month on Miami Beach.

I appreciate you view point on home ownership though. Clearly, the majority of homeowners on Miami Beach did not earn their money (or continue to earn it) from employment based in Miami Dade County). I wouldn't be bothered by the overpriced life style in SoFla if there was actually an industry to sustain those wages. Unfortunately, Miami is an investment and real estate heavan for "wealthy" people-or middle class from NYC/LA/Abroad. Remember, middle class people in those places are "wealthy" by the average Miami earner standards.

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by TXRyan23

I agree 100%, My intent wasn't to even try to compare. Miami and Miami Beach are gorgeous and would be a dream place to live. However, I guess I just may be old school, but I prefer to live in a place where my money stretches a bit further. I've been living quite well in Texas with the great economy, and yes, Cinco Ranch is a great community with top notch schools and a real "family" atmosphere.

A lot of people especially in Miami don't want to live in Texas. I don't know why you keep comparing Florida to Texas. We don't care. Texas has earned its bad reputation and for us Texas is non existent. We rather pay extra to live in a more civil society. If cheap housing was the only important factor we would move to Tijuana or Somalia.

Most of us don't want to live in a state where psychopaths can get away with torture and murder just because the archaic state law say so.

In San Antonio, an escort is killed after a date gone bad, but the shooter goes free:

In San Antonio, an escort is killed after a date gone bad, but the shooter goes free | Bud Ke...

[miamihurricane555]

My family lives off 45k and it's 4 people and I'm still able to enjoy life

[JacobMAX]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

A lot of people especially in Miami don't want to live in Texas. I don't know why you keep comparing Florida to Texas. We don't care. Texas has earned its bad reputation and for us Texas is non existent. We rather pay extra to live in a more civil society. If cheap housing was the only important factor we would move to Tijuana or Somalia.

Most of us don't want to live in a state where psychopaths can get away with torture and murder just because the archaic state law say so.

In San Antonio, an escort is killed after a date gone bad, but the shooter goes free:

In San Antonio, an escort is killed after a date gone bad, but the shooter goes free | Bud Ke...

Ooh, ooh, it's all horrible in Texas. No liberals, more freedom, ooohhh...it's horrible...gotta be kidding...At least it doesn't have nowhere bad of a reputation when compared to Miami (which is compared by most to major underdeveloped cities in average (or worse off) parts of the developing world). Fact, the economy there is much better; fact, more jobs. Fact, less poverty (that is, less people living in poverty). (Much) better crime rates overall (there will be exceptions, obvious). More freedom. It goes on and on. Clearly, as a whole, for the average Joe, for the regular American (family focused, proper, law abiding, etc.)...it's better...the facts are the facts; don't like it, that's a personal problem, it ain't the place. Your comparison to Somalia and something based in isolated incidents (which happen much more often in the rest of the Country) shows that's a flat out lie.

Everybody will trash me for that (frankly go ahead, and I will ignore it); but let the record say that my view towards SoFL is reasonable (it has some serious issues, but loads of upsides too - my posts speak for themselves), it isn't bad (at all) also.

[JacobMAX]

Originally Posted by miamihurricane555

My family lives off 45k and it's 4 people and I'm still able to enjoy life

That goes to show to the people...a $70k, $100k, or whatever pseudo-high income isn't needed to live down here properly.

[Sugah Ray]

Originally Posted by JacobMAX

Ooh, ooh, it's all horrible in Texas. No liberals, more freedom, ooohhh...it's horrible...gotta be kidding...At least it doesn't have nowhere bad of a reputation when compared to Miami (which is compared by most to major underdeveloped cities in average (or worse off) parts of the developing world). Fact, the economy there is much better; fact, more jobs. Fact, less poverty (that is, less

So now you have to a liberal if you believe killing a person over $150 is barbaric? Ok.... How much is a life worth to you $1?

[JacobMAX]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

So now you have to a liberal if you believe killing a person over $150 is barbaric? Ok.... How much is a life worth to you $1?

Did I imply anything like that in my post? Not at all. What you just said made any sense at all? Clearly not. Does that sort of thing happened somewhere else in this Country in areas with different political status/bias? Yes.

I won't comment further at all as not to end up hijacking the thread. Don't even try to begin another nonsensical fight, you'll be reported. Next time, anything violating even just a little of the T.O.S., anything at all, you'll be reported. And that's an end of it.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

A lot of people especially in Miami don't want to live in Texas. I don't know why you keep comparing Florida to Texas. We don't care. Texas has earned its bad reputation and for us Texas is non existent. We rather pay extra to live in a more civil society. If cheap housing was the only important factor we would move to Tijuana or Somalia.

Most of us don't want to live in a state where psychopaths can get away with torture and murder just because the archaic state law say so.

In San Antonio, an escort is killed after a date gone bad, but the shooter goes free:

In San Antonio, an escort is killed after a date gone bad, but the shooter goes free | Bud Ke...

I don't compare them. As a matter of fact, In the message you quoted, I specifically said "My intent wasn't to even try to compare." To be honest, aside from the luck of the draw of having thousands of years of quartz washed down from the Appalachian mountains to form your white sand beaches, there's very little that Florida has that Texas does not. As for the story you quoted, It's sad that a call girl was killed. However, women often use Craigslist to lure "John's" to a hotel with the intent to rob them. I love our state laws and hope they never change. If someone tries to rob me, I WILL shoot them.

You seem to forget some of these stories...

Xbox 360 Used as a Weapon in Strange Florida Murder
Bizarre Murder Trials In Florida - CBS News

Oh, and the biggest travesty of all...

Casey Anthony Not Guilty of Murder in Caylee's Death - ABC News

Or how Florida is known nationally as the weirdest state in the nation..

Florida: America's Weirdest State

Opps... So much for not living in a state where psychopaths can get away with torture and murder...

Florida Man Found Innocent Of Murdering Wife' Lover, Celebrates At Waffle House - 103.5 KISS FM - CHICAGO