($1,573) Movers From Oakland, CA to St. Petersburg, FL

What to know before moving from Oakland to St. Petersburg

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

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

• Rent prices in St. Petersburg are 6% lower than in Oakland, 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 51.0% lower than in Oakland.
• Income in St. Petersburg is 31.8% lower than in Oakland, 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 16.0% lower than in Oakland. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in St. Petersburg is 28.0% lower than in Oakland.
• The unemployment rate in St. Petersburg is 2.22% higher than in Oakland.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in St. Petersburg, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Petersburg are 31.71% lower than in Oakland.
• One perk of moving to St. Petersburg is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Oakland.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,519.39 in St. Petersburg to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Oakland.

How life is different in Oakland vs. St. Petersburg

• St. Petersburg might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 41% less than Oakland.
• Getting around St. Petersburg without a car might be more difficult than in Oakland. St. Petersburg has a public transportation score of 6 out of 10, whereas Oakland 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 Oakland. Based on its score of 43 out of 100, St. Petersburg isn’t as walkable as Oakland, which has a score of 75 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.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in St. Petersburg, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Oakland. While Oakland has a bike-friendliness score of 65 out of 100, St. Petersburg earned a 59. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• St. Petersburg has a lower crime rate than Oakland based on scores of 39.54 and Oakland's 68.62, 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 Oakland, based on St. Petersburg’s safety index of 60.46 versus 31.38 for Oakland. 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 Oakland 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 Oakland 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