($1,614) Movers From Scottsdale, AZ to St. Petersburg, FL

What to know before moving from Scottsdale to St. Petersburg

Moving from Scottsdale to St. Petersburg means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Scottsdale than in St. Petersburg, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Scottsdale compares to St. Petersburg so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in St. Petersburg are 37% lower than in Scottsdale, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in St. Petersburg.
  Home prices in St. Petersburg are 56.4% lower than in Scottsdale.
• Income is the same in St. Petersburg and Scottsdale. The top employers in St. Petersburg include Jabil, FADV Holdings, and Raymond James.
• The cost of living for a single person in St. Petersburg is 54.1% lower than in Scottsdale. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to St. Petersburg, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in St. Petersburg is 35.2% higher than in Scottsdale.
• The unemployment rate in St. Petersburg is 2.13% lower than in Scottsdale.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in St. Petersburg, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Petersburg are 13.04% lower than in Scottsdale.
• One perk of moving to St. Petersburg is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Scottsdale.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $1,377.72 in St. Petersburg to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Scottsdale.

How life is different in Scottsdale vs. St. Petersburg

• The population of St. Petersburg is about 7% greater than Scottsdale, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• St. Petersburg offers better access to buses and trains than Scottsdale, based on public transportation ratings. St. Petersburg has a transit score of 6 out of 10 compared to 5 in Scottsdale. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in St. Petersburg means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Scottsdale. St. Petersburg is considered more walkable than Scottsdale, with a score of 43 out of 100 versus 32 out of 100 in Scottsdale. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• St. Petersburg and Scottsdale are similarly bike-friendly based on their comparable ratings of 59 and 56 respectively. Bike-friendliness scores between 50 and 100 indicate varying levels of infrastructure to support cyclists, including bike lanes and roadway connectivity. Cities with scores under 50 are considered more car-dependent.
• The crime rate in St. Petersburg is higher than in Scottsdale, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 39.54 in St. Petersburg, it is 25.8 in Scottsdale. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in St. Petersburg. With a crime index of 60.46, St. Petersburg ranks lower in overall safety than Scottsdale, whose index is Scottsdale's 74.2. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in St. Petersburg and Scottsdale is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Scottsdale vs. St. Petersburg move

• Weather: St. Petersburg has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Individuals and companies engaging in for-profit local and intrastate moving within the Sunshine State must register each year with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Consumer Services. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Florida moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Florida does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to St. Petersburg. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Released Value Protection stands out as a cost-effective choice, provided by movers at no extra expense, although it comes with limited coverage. In this option, the mover's liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. To ensure comprehensive coverage matching the full value of your items, consult with your chosen moving company about alternative options or explore third-party insurance providers. Secure the best protection for your belongings during the move with these tailored coverage choices.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in St. Petersburg

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Always in Season", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in St. Petersburg.

Helpful moving resources