($1,318) Movers From St. Petersburg, FL to Ontario, CA

What to know before moving from St. Petersburg to Ontario

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

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

• Rent prices in Ontario are 26% higher than in St. Petersburg, 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 Ontario are 85.3% higher than in St. Petersburg.
• Income in Ontario is 11.7% higher than in St. Petersburg, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Ontario include Prime Healthcare, Niagara Bottling, and Gold Star Foods.
• The cost of living for a single person in Ontario is 6.4% lower than in St. Petersburg. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Ontario is 6.2% lower than in St. Petersburg.
• The unemployment rate in Ontario is 50.00% higher than in St. Petersburg.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Ontario, since the city’s sales taxes in Ontario are 25.00% higher than in St. Petersburg.
• State income taxes in Ontario are 13.30% higher than in St. Petersburg.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,808.10 in Ontario to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in St. Petersburg.

How life is different in St. Petersburg vs. Ontario

• Ontario might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 32% less than St. Petersburg.
• Getting around Ontario without a car might be more difficult than in St. Petersburg. Ontario has a public transportation score of 5 out of 10, whereas St. Petersburg is ranked 6. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Living in Ontario means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in St. Petersburg. Ontario is considered more walkable than St. Petersburg, with a score of 48 out of 100 versus 43 out of 100 in St. Petersburg. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Ontario, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than St. Petersburg. While St. Petersburg has a bike-friendliness score of 59 out of 100, Ontario earned a 46. 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.
• The crime rate in Ontario is higher than in St. Petersburg, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 50.25 in Ontario, it is 39.54 in St. Petersburg. 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 Ontario. With a crime index of 49.75, Ontario ranks lower in overall safety than St. Petersburg, whose index is St. Petersburg's 60.46. 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 Ontario and St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg vs. Ontario move

• Weather: Ontario with hot summers and 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: When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a California moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: California 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 Ontario. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Opt for Released Value Protection – a cost-free choice provided by movers with minimal coverage. The liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement is only $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). To ensure comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, consult with your chosen moving company or consider third-party insurance options.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Ontario

Now that you've decided to make the move to "", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Ontario.

Helpful moving resources