($1,603) Movers From Los Angeles, CA to St. Petersburg, FL

What to know before moving from Los Angeles to St. Petersburg

Moving from Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles than in St. Petersburg, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

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

• Rent prices in St. Petersburg are 30% lower than in Los Angeles, 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 84.8% lower than in Los Angeles.
• Income in St. Petersburg is 14.2% lower than in Los Angeles, so you could earn less for doing the same job. 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 32.6% lower than in Los Angeles. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in St. Petersburg is 32.9% lower than in Los Angeles.
• The unemployment rate in St. Petersburg is 56.60% lower than in Los Angeles.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in St. Petersburg, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Petersburg are 26.32% lower than in Los Angeles.
• One perk of moving to St. Petersburg is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Los Angeles.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,020.91 in St. Petersburg to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Los Angeles.

How life is different in Los Angeles vs. St. Petersburg

• St. Petersburg might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 93% less than Los Angeles.
• Getting around St. Petersburg without a car might be more difficult than in Los Angeles. St. Petersburg has a public transportation score of 6 out of 10, whereas Los Angeles is ranked 8. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• St. Petersburg neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Los Angeles. Based on its score of 43 out of 100, St. Petersburg isn’t as walkable as Los Angeles, which has a score of 69 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• St. Petersburg and Los Angeles are similarly bike-friendly based on their rating of 59. 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.
• St. Petersburg has a lower crime rate than Los Angeles based on scores of 39.54 and Los Angeles's 53.81, 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 Los Angeles, based on St. Petersburg’s safety index of 60.46 versus 46.19 for Los Angeles. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• You can breathe easy knowing that St. Petersburg has better air quality than in Los Angeles. St. Petersburg has Good air quality, compared to moderate in Los Angeles. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.

Other things to consider for your Los Angeles 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