[beach43ofus]

https://smartasset.com/data-studies/...st-living-2023

This shows how far $250k year in annual income will go in 100 cities.

Jax is 10th best, and Tampa is 22nd.

In parts in California, $250k/yr takes you to only $82.5 after taxes and cost of living adjustments.

In JAX, you'll get $186k out of $250k in income....more than 2x San Fran.

Now do you see what we're seeing so many Cali car tags here in FLA?

[silverct9a]

Interesting topic - I’d say it depends on your desired lifestyle mostly. I live in the Miami metro and my household income is quite a bit above this threshold ($300k+) yet I don’t feel “rich” at all - fairly comfortable, but certainly not rich; however, I do splurge annually on Miami Dolphins & Miami Marlins season tickets.

I have a fairly significant annual tax burden (only have 1 child and no business to conduct tax write offs) as a majority of my income come from W-2 wages, and investments…this year I saw substantial casino winnings and had to do win/loss statements etc so even “winning” has a downside.

Yet even with all this, I still take home as much or more than those I know who are high earners in other states (D.C., NY, Cali etc). Some of those colleagues would even ask why I’m in Florida - oh I have my reasons - I’m at the threshold to actually see substantial tax savings that’s why! On the other hand, if one is working age and making less than 60k, screw the tax savings and go where you can earn more.

[kyle19125]

Interestingly enough there is this factoid:

- Moved from California to Florida in 2019: 28,628
--- 4.8% of new residents that moved from another state
--- #7 most common destination from California
- Moved from Florida to California in 2019: 22,692
--- #4 most common destination from Florida to California in 2019

Net migration for FL: 5,336

Not even a blip on the radar statewide, and hardly a situation where one would see a plethora of California plates.

[Monello]

You can live large in Jax on that salary. Most likely a lot less expensive when compared to the other 2 choices.

But the salary is only part of the equation. What if this person is a shopaholic? Or perhaps just bad with finances? Then they could possibly struggle in a super low cost area.

FWIW, I live in a highly desirable beach town in the Florida panhandle. I'm retired and generate a lot less income than this example. I'm able to pay all my bills and still put money away each month. So your spending habits come into play with these cost of living scenarios.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Interestingly enough there is this factoid:

- Moved from California to Florida in 2019: 28,628
--- 4.8% of new residents that moved from another state
--- #7 most common destination from California
- Moved from Florida to California in 2019: 22,692
--- #4 most common destination from Florida to California in 2019

Net migration for FL: 5,336

Not even a blip on the radar statewide, and hardly a situation where one would see a plethora of California plates.

They must have all moved into Sarasota County because I see CA car tags daily...not rental cars either. Mostly older cars.

[silverct9a]

I somewhat agree with this at least when it comes to SE Florida. I travel all throughout South Florida weekly (mostly PBC & Broward) and I actually don't see many California plates - mostly NY, NJ, CT, and Texas to a lesser extent. I do see them, but it's not very common.

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Interestingly enough there is this factoid:

- Moved from California to Florida in 2019: 28,628
--- 4.8% of new residents that moved from another state
--- #7 most common destination from California
- Moved from Florida to California in 2019: 22,692
--- #4 most common destination from Florida to California in 2019

Net migration for FL: 5,336

Not even a blip on the radar statewide, and hardly a situation where one would see a plethora of California plates.

[Corrie22]

calif tags are not as easy to spot any more....they are just white with blue letters now

[Arcenal813]

I don’t see CA plates at all here in the Tampa Bay Area. None at all.
I didn’t really see any in Orlando either.

[TrophyRanger]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Interestingly enough there is this factoid:

- Moved from California to Florida in 2019: 28,628
--- 4.8% of new residents that moved from another state
--- #7 most common destination from California
- Moved from Florida to California in 2019: 22,692
--- #4 most common destination from Florida to California in 2019

Net migration for FL: 5,336

Not even a blip on the radar statewide, and hardly a situation where one would see a plethora of California plates.

I'm not sure California-Florida is the best gage due to the distance between the two states. I'm certainly no migration expert but from what I've read/heard, most moving cross-state will typically land in neighboring states. For example, many ex-Californians are leaving for Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Colorado, Idaho and Montana.

As such, perhaps New York would be a better barometer:

- Moved from New York to Florida in 2019: 57,488
--- 9.6% of new residents that moved from another state
--- #2 most common destination from New York
- Moved from Florida to New York in 2019: 18,976
--- #8 most common destination from Florida

I'd also be curious to see post-pandemic data. I suspect the numbers would be even more skewed.

[Prickly Pear]

If you can’t make it on $250k a year you have a serious budgeting issue. You can live in Honolulu or something it doesn’t matter you can live anywhere in the US on that income.