($1,481) Movers From Bakersfield, CA to St. Petersburg, FL

What to know before moving from Bakersfield to St. Petersburg

Moving from Bakersfield to St. Petersburg comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since St. Petersburg is generally more expensive than Bakersfield, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in St. Petersburg are 22% higher than in Bakersfield, which means you’ll have less 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 7.5% lower than in Bakersfield.
• Income in St. Petersburg is 12.8% lower than in Bakersfield, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in St. Petersburg include Jabil, FADV Holdings, and Raymond James.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in St. Petersburg, since the cost of living for a single person in St. Petersburg is 6.0% higher than in Bakersfield. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in St. Petersburg is 11.0% lower than in Bakersfield.
• The unemployment rate in St. Petersburg is 22.03% lower than in Bakersfield.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in St. Petersburg, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Petersburg are 15.15% lower than in Bakersfield.
• One perk of moving to St. Petersburg is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Bakersfield.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,179.30 in St. Petersburg to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Bakersfield.

How life is different in Bakersfield vs. St. Petersburg

• St. Petersburg might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 71% less than Bakersfield.
• St. Petersburg offers better access to buses and trains than Bakersfield, based on public transportation ratings. St. Petersburg has a transit score of 6 out of 10 compared to 4 in Bakersfield. 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 Bakersfield. St. Petersburg is considered more walkable than Bakersfield, with a score of 43 out of 100 versus 37 out of 100 in Bakersfield. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, St. Petersburg is considered more bike-friendly than Bakersfield in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. St. Petersburg has a bike-friendliness score of 59 out of 100, while Bakersfield is rated as 44 out of 100.
• St. Petersburg has a lower crime rate than Bakersfield based on scores of 39.54 and Bakersfield's 58.49, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in St. Petersburg than in Bakersfield, based on St. Petersburg’s safety index of 60.46 versus 41.51 for Bakersfield. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in St. Petersburg and Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield 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