($1,510) Movers From Madison, WI to St. Petersburg, FL

What to know before moving from Madison to St. Petersburg

Moving from Madison to St. Petersburg comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since St. Petersburg is generally more expensive than Madison, 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 30% higher than in Madison, 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 2.0% lower than in Madison.
• Income in St. Petersburg is 2.3% higher than in Madison, so you could earn more 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 15.3% higher than in Madison. 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 13.2% higher than in Madison.
• The unemployment rate in St. Petersburg is 39.39% higher than in Madison.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in St. Petersburg, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Petersburg are 27.27% higher than in Madison.
• One perk of moving to St. Petersburg is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Madison.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,458.12 in St. Petersburg to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Madison.

How life is different in Madison vs. St. Petersburg

• St. Petersburg and Madison have roughly the same population, which could make adjusting to your new life in Florida easier.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in St. Petersburg will be about the same as it currently is in Madison. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
• St. Petersburg neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Madison. Based on its score of 43 out of 100, St. Petersburg isn’t as walkable as Madison, which has a score of 50 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 Madison. While Madison has a bike-friendliness score of 66 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.
• The crime rate in St. Petersburg is higher than in Madison, 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 34.57 in Madison. 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 Madison, whose index is Madison's 65.43. 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 Madison 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 Madison vs. St. Petersburg move

• Weather: St. Petersburg has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters.
• HOA rules: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• 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. Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in Florida, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While Florida doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to St. Petersburg without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. 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 gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in St. Petersburg

With your sights set on "Always in Season", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in St. Petersburg.

Helpful moving resources