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Florida was number one last year in cost of living increases. Peaking at a 6.0& inflation rate the cost of everything from gas to food has risen dramatically.
The catalyst for these rising costs has been fuel. Fuel costs in Florida have increased by 5.6%, the national average was 4.9%. Florida experienced a 4.2% jump in food and beverages cost last year.
The price of milk in some cities is as high as 4.9% a gallon. To make matters worse Florida has a .6% sales tax.The average cost of a home in south Florida is $390,00 which is considerably higher than homes in the north which average around $240,00.
Gas is back down to under $3,00 a gallon but not by much holding steady at around $2.90 a gallon. Electricity is currently 8.88 cents per kilo watt per hour.
This is not too shabby compare to other major U.S.A cities. In Tampa rent ranges from about $740 to over $1,000 per month, depending on location. The average is $850 per month .Occupancy rates reached 98.1% in 2006.
Tampa is one of the most highly occupied rental markets in Florida .Orlando's average is about $827, but ranges from about $700 to $1,100 per month
The median salary in Florida is $44,000. That's $35,000 for administrative office managers, $38,000 for store managers, $ 30,000 for administrative assistants, %55,00 for Software developers,and $59,000 for project managers.
Currently most people around the country consider the cost of living to be fairly high because of these tough economic times. However, this is certainly not the case all across the board. It is important to consider that different parts of the country may fair differently. Consequently, Florida which is known as one of the top vacation destinies is an interesting case to look at when it comes to the cost of living considering the great variety in the state s different regions. Certainly, Florida can be classified as fairly expensive state to live in considering all the tourism and prime real estate. Florida has been a major tourist destination for a very long time. Generally speaking, touristy cities tend to be more expensive because they can be. They have a more than average influx of visitors so they can afford to charge more for services, restaurants, and entertainment. North Florida cities such as Panama City have been major spring break destinations, consistently bringing college kids in every year. In Central Florida, Orlando is a major tourist destination because of all the theme parks. South Florida, is an all purpose tourist destination with major cities like Miami, Ft.Lauderdale and the Keys. Florida real estate is another source of high costs. Florida has some of the most expensive real estate in the country. Beach front property prices are out of this world and with the great weather there is never a shortage of new residents. As a result there is more demand than supply and even the cost of renting a one bedroom apartment can get ridiculous. At the same time, there are certain aspects to living in Florida that are more affordable than in other places. For example, state taxes are some of the lowest in the country. Florida ranks 45 out of the 50 states for the lowest taxes. Also, with the agricultural industry in Florida, the cost of food is cheaper. Not to mention that considering its geographical location even food that is out of season is cheaper than in other places since it is cheaper to get strawberries from Chile to Florida than from Chile to Michigan. Additionally, personal quality of life style attributes such as vacationing is still considerably cheaper for Floridians. With theme parks and beaches in near proximity, Florida families can still afford to vacation because they don t need to purchase airline tickets. Not to mention Florida resident discounts at most hotels and other destinations. So overall, the cost of living in Florida is not necessarily cheap in this day and age. However, if one was to compare it to other places than it can be considered more affordable. It definitely depends on personal lifestyle choices and preferences. The cost of living may be cheaper for families considering the cost of food, vacations, and taxes. However, a single person living in one of the major cities, with a more active social life who wines and dines out frequently, will probably have to spending more money.
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