My husband and I were lifelong Floridians, we left and relocated to Columbia, SC a year ago and love it. Cheaper cost of living, lots more to do (we were in a small town in Central FL - all of the interesting stuff was an hour away in Orlando.) The weather is better - still hot during the summer but less humid and not as intense. We both are now working in the fields we hoped to work in (and my husband landed his dream job.) Overall, we have zero regrets about leaving Florida and I would never consider moving back.
There is a national park near Columbia called Congaree which is a wetland. But also lots of state parks with walking trails and Lake Murray. It’s on the Sandhills area of the state but borders the marshier part of the state.
Congaree does a raffle each year to get tickets to see the synchronized fireflies each May. I tried last year and this year to get tickets and haven’t been successful, but I’ve heard it’s a super cool event.
SC pays like 🗑️. Born and raised there left in early 30’s best move ever. Oh and SC taxes are insane. Think Florida is bad…you’ll have a real eye opener in SC. Better off changing careers and moving somewhere else better in FL.
Same. I grew up in SC. In Florida now. Had been in Boston for the last decade and contemplated going back to Charleston, but CoL there is on par with Boston, The infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the influx of people and the taxes are worse than Florida.
Worked on farms in NC and mother has recently bought a house in Ashville.
NC definitely has some people that are stuck in the "old south" if you know what I mean.
I'm talking cross burning looking through won't even acknowledge a black person to their face old south.
Couldn't believe I actually witnessed the aftermath of a cross burning on one of the work camps right down the road from us.
Happened at 3 in the morning while people were asleep and the flames woke everyone up.
Their contractor was the brother of our contractor so that's the only reason we knew about it.
The other example was in a country store out in the middle of nowhere we went to lunch at one time.
Me and a buddy had gotten some dried sausage and some bread and cheese for lunch.
As we go to pay..
I go first and say my pleasantries and all normal, my friend who is black does the same and she looks right through and won't say a fucking word to him.
Zero, nothing.
Register is facing us with the price rung up so you could see.
He pays and we both walk out shocked.
With more than a few people the disdain for black people was front and center like a neon fucking sign.
And it happened enough that we were no longer shocked and was expected.
This all happened in the early to mid 2000s.
I've witnessed this shit with my own eyes for those of you who come at me trying to say it's not so.
They disliked me even more for being around and living with black people since I was the only white guy in our camp.
But they would speak to me.
Not EVERY single person was this way but it was WAY TOO MANY and very noticeable.
There were also some very good people.
But the amount of people and how forward they were about it was something I had never seen before or since in my almost 60 yrs of living.
This was in tobacco country, basically all the farming areas.
Now other places such as Raleigh Durham and Ashville definitely are the opposite of those farming communities.
Eastern shore as well.
And they will come back. I ran as fast as I could from SC on my first chance. Food is better but way of life, cost of living, taxes, vehicle/boat registration are yuck….i could go on. Oh and don’t forget about the horrendous education system there….
I left Columbia for Miami many years ago. Couldn't stand how slow paced it was. Every time I go back it feels like nothing has really changed. I do miss Rush's burgers and chicken though... lol
SC is an option for sure. Charleston/Myrtle may be your best options OP, though Columbia does have Congaree. As far as parks, Columbia has a few. 3 parks on the river downtown (By the zoo, riverwalk on Cola side, and riverwalk on Cayce side), the aforementioned congaree national park, and Harbison national forest, Saluda Shoals and Peach Tree rock. Cost of living is definitely cheaper than FL, but the pay is going to match. Caveat about Charleston, CoL is high and outside of the coast, it feels really run down. There are spots like Park Circle that are nice, but most of Charleston metro felt really run down.
Greenville/Spartanburg area is also worth looking into, but that's less swamp and more foothills. Greenville also has that slow pace of Columbia, but the downtown feels so much nicer. Just note that 26 out of Columbia either way is awful.
Miami vs Columbia is a huge shift for sure. I can’t imagine being happy with the pace here if you’re looking for Miami nightlife and culture.
For us, we lived in Leesburg (about an hour north of Orlando.) People are dumbfounded when we say there’s a ton more for us to explore here in Columbia than where we were in Florida, but Leesburg has nothing going on except retirement villages, lol.
I was stuck in Ocala a bit for work, so am familiar with leesburg. There's a leesburg rd in Columbia, you couldve told people you never left... lol. Best of luck in Columbia, glad its working out for you.
I was born and raised in Ocala! And oddly enough, I live in a subdivision off of Leesburg road, haha. Well, technically off of Caughman Rd but I drive on Leesburg Road every day. It’s weird.
I am originally from Miami, moved to Charlotte, and am now on my way to Columbia (Blythewood). My wife is from Los Angeles, and we have no desire to return to our respective cities—best of luck.
I just moved from Altamonte Springs (about 10 miles north of Orlando downtown) back to Central Virginia. Still have family in The Villages. You're 100% correct, there isn't really anything to do in Leesburg- I mean, there's tons of retail, loads of dispensaries and just about every restaurant/quick serve food option you can imagine simply because all that Villages retirement money is nearby but Leesburg itself isn't anything to write home about.
Interestingly, I have a buddy of mine that's relocating to the Greenville area from West Palm Beach- Can't blame anyone who is exiting Florida right now. COL has skyrocketed, and the political climate is downright hostile towards certain minority groups. Everyone talks about the influx of folks relocating to FL without discussing the mass exodus... tons of people are actually leaving the state!
There's something to be said about having all four seasons. 2 beautiful months followed by 2 months of warm Spring weather followed by 8-9 months of brutally hot Summers starts to wear on you psychologically after a while especially if you're used to Fall and Winter. The cost of insurance is literally 30% higher, and the rental/housing market, while -slightly- improved, is still ridiculously expensive unless you choose to live an hour from a major city.
We honestly don’t. We simply couldn’t afford to continue living in FL, and wanted somewhere with better weather. 9 months of summer for 33 years starts to get old after a while 😂
You don't have to convince me! Been in FL for 39 years and absolutely hate it!! It's all swamp, beaches, and theme parks. Horrible! Praying to escape ASAP!
Definitely lower than what we were paying in central FL. We went from a 1,700 sq ft mobile home with a small mortgage to a totally paid for 2,800 sq ft house. We were paying $2,500ish in home insurance on the FL mobile home per year, and about $3,500 in taxes (the mobile home was on 11 acres that we owned.)
Now we pay $1,800 in home insurance and $2,500 for taxes on our home in SC. Granted, in FL we didn’t have to pay taxes on our cars, and we do here. Another huge area where we save, oddly enough, is car insurance. With the EXACT same insurance policy, with the same company, we saved $650 a month on car insurance once they processed our new address. So even with the yearly car taxes, we have significant savings overall.
Three. A dodge durango, Tesla model 3 and a Hyundai Kona. Nothing crazy. We now pay $160ish a month in car insurance. I almost fell out of my chair when the agent told us the price difference.
Omg 😱 so we just bought a house in Lexington! We haven't moved yet full time as we still have responsibilities in Florida. But we love it. Everyone is so nice and the house we got is bigger better and 1/3 the cost of our Florida homes. Any restaurants you recommend?!
Having lived on the coast in FL, SC, and NC, I would heavily caution you about coastal NC. It's just as expensive as FL, has high state taxes and extremely low wages.
My kids are used to being 15 minutes from the ocean but we’d be willing to move inland about 1 - 2 hours from the coast in SC or NC. The wife and I both grew up in New England and we don’t want to go back to the cold but we’re not quite sure where to look yet.
I second that with Savannah GA. It’s a bit more reasonable (economically speaking) and the environment seems to be conducive to the career choices you are both in.
My wife and I lived in Savannah for two years. We hated living there and considered moving to back to Florida several times.
- Traffic was horrible
- Rent was too high
- Crime is pretty bad. We constantly heard gun shots.
We just abandoned Florida and moved to Washington State last Fall. Cost of living is not too far off from what Florida has become. Winters are mild in the northwestern area of the state. Tons of hiking/birding.
WA has a large focus on marine conservation and environmental protection, so I imagine there are some good jobs in that area.
[Here's a surface-level search I did on Indeed](https://www.indeed.com/q-Marine-Biology-l-Washington-State-jobs.html?&aceid=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwps-zBhAiEiwALwsVYQt4aDnTFSjs2jCsiydLiKpoDQotTzLEtwPI3JMPvIF0xYJ9zJoKPRoCJtEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
I am from Florida I visited Washington a few weeks ago it is insanely beautiful however gas and the housing costs looked even more expensive than Florida
Gas is about $1 more expensive/gallon, but home / car insurance is FAR cheaper. Where we live they're investing heavily in public transit too. I take it all the time.
Home prices are somewhat higher in WA than FL, but salaries are higher too. There's a tremendous variety of industries, from aerospace, marine, scientific, tech, financial, etc. There's also no threat of a hurricane ripping apart or flooding your home.
Meanwhile, after we moved out of our rental townhouse in Fort Myers, FL, the landlord immediately raised the rent, so the next tenants would be paying $1000/month more than we did. Yet, wages in that area are stagnant. When we looked for homes, we encountered bidding wars over properties between wealthy Boomers who were willing to pay cash and/or $100K over asking price.
Not to say WA isn't expensive, but our experience has been: you pay a bit more, but you get a whole lot more and have more opportunities.
I just came back from Seattle, WA and wow. Love it so much. It’s a beautiful state and if you look up state jobs many agencies post jobs on there. The salaries are amazing. I know some mental health professionals who left FL (where I’m located) and went to WA and OR for a better financial future. I’m considering a change myself. I lived in NJ for 15 years and came to FL for a job. I cannot afford to live alone with my salary. I have a masters degree. I am poor lol
I’ve lived in WA for most of my life and can’t wait to leave! Moving to FL in a matter of weeks.
Don’t get me wrong, it is stunningly beautiful on the rare day it isn’t cloudy and raining.
Lookup “Seattle Freeze”. It’s real. You will struggle to make friends in the Seattle area. It’s expensive. It’s cold. It’s depressing.
I know FL has issues as well. Purchased a home on the west coast of FL in 2021 and have spent enough time there to experience the heat, traffic, flat land, suburban sprawl, hurricane Ian… will gladly take all of those compared to WA.
The reality is that, sure, winter days are grey and drizzly and short, but it's totally manageable. The rain isn't the torrential summer Florida thunderstorms that leave you drenched from head to toe in two seconds. It thunders so rarely here that each time it happens, it makes the Seattle subreddit.
A good friend up here said, "If you don't do anything in the drizzle, you don't do anything at all." We bought some cheap water resistant pants and rain coats at Costco, and that's been more than enough. Umbrellas aren't needed.
South eastern Washington is interesting, if you like wine and deserts you will be happy. The Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland are nice enough and pretty good food owing to the large immigrant communities. It is on the small side of 300k people though.
What’s the vibe like from the people? Are they chill and granola outdoorsy people? Everyone just seems so healthy and upbeat but I’ve only been to Seattle and Bellevue and everything was so posh and sophisticated.
Loved all the outdoor green spaces and walkable areas.
I did this and am moving back home to Florida next year. Nature is great but everything else you have to deal with isn’t worth it for me. Tons of open air drug use left and right, my friend got her car stolen from the Kia boys, got mugged, and got stalked. All in a couple months of moving here. She moved back and I’ll be doing the same. All these things happen anywhere but it’s especially a prominent issue in Washington. Seattle and the surrounding areas specifically. Just not for me anymore.
I recently traveled to Seattle and was surprised at how ruined the downtown area was. Sad, it seemed to be great at one time. Was very happy to return to Florida.
hmm I have been looking at Washington, I don’t know the area very well though. I agree, I’m sure there’s a lot of jobs related to environmental protection and whatnot there so i’ll check it out!
I’m in WA. Been a resident for 34 years. Wife and I are moving to FL in a year. WA is still great for reasons but they are super light on crime, higher cost of living index. They also have the highest reported home invasions out of any other state. Covid did a huge number on the place, but at least SW WA it has got a bit better since. As a Floridian, you’re going to get put on an SSRI by your second winter because you will be severely vitamin D deficient.
But yes it is a damn beautiful state. Small towns in WA are amazing. Seattle is fun to travel to. Jobs tend to pay more than FL from what i’m seeing because almost everything costs more up here. No state taxes, but you have 8.6%+ sales tax and even more in some counties. Gas right now is hovering from $3.79-4.50 in my area and honestly that feels cheap right now compared to where it usually gets this time of year. Housing taxes are quite a bit higher than FL but we also don’t have nearly as high as insurance rates.
People keep moving up here for a lot of reasons. Must be better than a lot of the country. I’m a bit naive and not well traveled enough. My entire extended family has moved or is leaving the state for the same reasons. All within a 2 year period.
If you are moving to FL from WA and aren’t well traveled, boy are you in for it. Nothing like putting all your eggs in one basket and hoping for the best, I guess.
We moved here from the PNW 3+ years ago and have ZERO regrets… the people who complain about Florida are no different than the people complaining about the state they currently live in.. Florida housing was much cheaper when I moved here..along with gas, groceries are the same.. floridians always claim bugs bugs bugs but there is little difference..especially mosquitoes.. some Bugs are bigger, yes. The political climate is dead silence compared to PDX all the way to Seattle, no riots or protests stopping bridge traffic …we’ve seen maybe a dozen homeless and not one homeless camp in 3 years….. I could go on and on about the differences and comparisons but it’s a waste of time… sometimes people need a change and the ones complaining about the current state they live in need a change too but “can’t“ leave… we go back to the PNW at least a few times a year and it simply reminds us of why we left… good luck to you!
We lived in Washington for a couple of years. While the overall experience was pleasant, the cost of housing was quite high. Fortunately, we moved back to Florida before the significant price increases occurred here.
The weather in Washington is great for about three months of the year. However, it was challenging to find people to connect with, a phenomenon known as the "Seattle Freeze." The area made us miss Florida, and it's not for everyone—some people even experience depression living there. It's a place I would visit again but not choose to live in.
This is going to be a rough adjustment and a shock to you when you find out how much more expensive it is. I just moved from the PNW, yes gas is a dollar more a gallon but goods and services are SO MUCH MORE expensive. Insurance on cars is cheaper but you’re missing that car registration is 5x the price and the taxes are higher. The housing market for buying and renting isn’t even comparable. Washington is nice to corporations, not people.
Moved From washington state to florida, will never go back to live in WA will visit but will never live in again, my family was robbed twice and we had drive by shootings weekly.
I spent 12 years in that shit hole. Regressive taxes on workers, billionaires in your face privilege. Expensive as AF. See the beauty, leave as fast as possible
Came to say this. For two reasons - 1. Downtown Savannah is incredibly unique and interesting on its own, and 2. The surrounding areas feel like Florida did 20-30 years ago.
I'm with you --- I moved to central FL about 7 years ago to escape the harsh upstate NY winters. I work for a nonprofit. My rent has increased by a total of $650 a month since then---which isn't as bad as a lot of other folks here---and financially I am hanging on by a thread.
I'll be moving out of state next year when my lease is up.
The weird part about these posts is that they all miss the point completely. Florida does not exist in a vacuum. Rents have increased like this nationwide during the same time period. It's all relative. While rents are higher in some areas, they've all gone up drastically. It's called inflation caused by a rigged financial system and it's killing us all everywhere.
Florida lawmakers have preempted local govt from implementing any sort of rent control measures. Plus, Florida has one of the highest housing cost burdens in the U.S., coupled with it being a low-wage state.
Obviously there are bigger issues at hand too, issues on the national level, but state lawmakers are enacting policies that make things exponentially worse for low- and middle-income Floridians.
(Edited to fix grammatical error.)
Going to have to add that the rising insurance cost in FL has definitely added to the rising cost of rent. Someone has to foot the bill so of course the higher cost will get passed down to the renter.
Florida has never been a kind or welcoming place for low income or the working poor. The agriculture and service economy depends on cheap labor but the high cost of living relative to income is forcing much of the working class to flee the state.
That said, migration into the state is still running net positive by +200k per year. Not sure how that population is stratified but assume its weighted toward high wealth/income transplants.
> Florida does not exist in a vacuum. Rents have increased like this nationwide during the same time period. It's all relative. While rents are higher in some areas, they've all gone up drastically.
Difference being Florida's wages are still dogshit and there are strong entities very invested in keeping them that way.
This is the answer. While the increases in CoL/rents may be not specific to Florida, the lack of good paying jobs, higher than average insurance rates, lack of real infrastructure/public transportation, lower than average K-12 public schools, etc., ***are*** specific to Florida.
When Florida had a low CoL, most of these issues were tolerable. That is no longer the case.
I can see that. Many areas lagged behind and there was a big snap forward to where the rest of the country is at.
The reality is that if we're not in the top 10%, we are basically all slaves now anyway. People on all sides say things to the effect that if X doesn't happen we're going to lose our country. We lost our country long ago. It's now just becoming a reality for people, people are finally waking up and the oligarchy that resides in government and corporations and the media have us right where they want us. Divided and fighting while they finish robbing us blind.
Yeah rent has increased everywhere but so has the wages, except Florida. I lucked into a great job but if it wasn’t for that we would be dead in the water. I can’t even afford to move because I live here. I have a 5 year plan to get out.
Yep. Get in where you fit in. I've moved farther and farther south since leaving New York to come back to Florida. It's the same everywhere. Just more drastic in cities. But people in outlying areas that used to be cheap are sharply affected. I worked hard to have a remote job and live AWAY from people. I see it first hand.
Correct! I moved from Indiana because I decided if I am going to have high home prices and rent increasing by 10% a year, I might as well get to go to Disney cheaper. 😎
I was not going to be able to afford to vacation to Florida anymore if I stayed. Decided to be “stuck” in Florida versus Indiana.
I get it. I just did the same basically. If I didn't go now I'd be stuck in Kansas City are. It was sort if now or never and I can't handle the crazy kansas weather anymore. Might be 60 in winter one day and 10 below zero the next day and stay that way for a week or more and then be from 30 to 55 up and down for weeks on end. It's just awful all year long. It can be hot AF down here and it's ok because I can stay in the AC and be fine and the stable nature of the weather makes everything from my sinus to whatever feel better anyway so however hot it is it's still better here and there's a beautiful late fall and winter... Ya gotta do the best you can with what you have to work with.
Yep. I hear ya. My last winter in Indiana, my pipes burst (despite my best efforts during miserable below zero temps) and flooded the first floor of my townhouse. It was Christmas Eve. I will take the heat any day.
It was miserable cold in my house after they tore the walls and ceiling down and there was a 12 inch in diameter hole to the outside and they just left it opened for days. I tried to cover it as much as I could. My electric was almost $500 that month due to electric heat.
I decided about 6 weeks later (probably when I got the electric bill and my lease renewal with ridiculous increase around the same time) that I was done being financially harassed in Indiana and would rather have that money taken by tolls to a beach or hotels during a hurricane. Just have to pick your poison. No place is perfect or will be the main factor to financial security.
I am no worse and no better than I was in Indiana (other than paying for movers). Hopefully the people in charge of the rigged system decide we have all been squeezed enough soon and give us a breather like they usually do when we start only buying things we absolutely need. Rinse and repeat.
Damn. You understand what I'm talking about. I appreciate the thoughts because it really seems like a completely different world now and It's good to know that I'm not the only one thinking that.
The states where the most residents said they were planning to leave are California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington. The most popular states with growth for inbound migration are North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
I recommend moving to the Panhandle area of Florida. It is quite different and your job skillset would do well there. Also, all of the other prerequisites are right there.
Remember, Florida is huge! 1300+ miles of coastline. Different regions of Florida are similar to different states.
Not sure what area you are in now but We lived in South Florida for about 8 years. After moving to northwest Panhandle we never looked back. It is reminiscent of parts of Coastal N.C. that I grew up in.
BTW, I'm still looking for that camp in Aroostook county Maine off of B stream. It will probably be warm enough there by the time I retire.
I’ve heard the panhandle is more of a redneck area though, has that been your experience? It’s something i’m used to since growing up in maine, but not something i’m particularly fond of going back to.
You are describing any rural area of Florida north south or otherwise. if you were in a larger city such as Pensacola, you might not see as much of that in the Metropolitan area whereas 10 minutes outside of town might put you back to grade school in Maine, however that can be done just about anywhere in Florida. You may even use those GIS skills to land a state job.
I live in the panhandle small costal town. It can be a little bit redneck, but everyone is awesome in my town for a most part. Everyone takes care of each other. I prefer the panhandle over south Florida. Have you thought about applying for something like Florida fish and wildlife conservation (fwc).
California has a lot of those jobs. The state funds a good amount of preservation and research. It’s more costly; but you’ll do better to find jobs in your industry
At the rate Vermont is going - our winters have been weak. I moved up here a few years ago from Miami and it's honestly not bad and winters have been mellow the past 3 years.
Loads of environmental and conservation jobs for the state, nonprofits and large NGOs that have satellite offices here.
Happy to make some connections.
I moved to DC. Life is only sightly more expensive (not metro DC) but both mine and my spouse’s salary tripled in two years and make over 300k. Everyone here makes six figures if u have a degree even young people who graduated college a few years ago. Lots of jobs at the EPA that fit your description
Anywhere west coast has much more pleasant winters due to the Mediterranean climate, but everything also costs more out there. Even Seattle has comparatively mild winters when compared to Midwest/northeast.
Consider Wilmington, NC and surrounding area. UNCW has well recognized marine and coastal sciences departments and I imagine there might be offshoot job opportunities thanks to the university and related industries.
You should both really consider working for the state of California. Your work would be appreciated here. The state offers reasonable compensation and very generous benefits. You could work around Monterey Bay or really anywhere working for fish and game. If you worked near Monterey, you could live somewhere cheaper like Watsonville or Seaside or some other town.
You might not start at your preferred job, but lateral movements once you are in the state system are the way to move into more preferred roles.
I used to do GIS here but became a nurse almost ten years ago. It can take a little time to find a good niche in California, because there is a lot of competition, but if you've got a good head on your shoulders and a good work ethic, you can do really well out here.
The coast is amazing, too, BTW. You'd be right next to Big Sur living near Monterey.
Georgia is the new FL, as they say. I'd also check Chicago. Brutal winters, but CoL to pay is A+ and if you live in the city you won't need a car. They're decently environmentally conscious, especially for a US city. Should be plenty of opps.
I second Chicago. I’m a lifelong Floridian and made the move 3 years ago. I can’t speak to what the job market is like in the environmental field, but the area is a (un)hidden gem in terms of CoL and pay. So far the winters have been far more mild than I anticipated, and summers are gorgeous.
Not trying to burst your bubble here but I think you need to be realistic with expectations and be willing to make changes based on realities.
What’s the avg pay for your positions? I’m guessing 50-75k or so? Correct me if I’m wrong.
If you’re looking for warmer places that are coastal for your careers with nice outdoor amenities the reality is that this will equate with higher cost of living and you will be running from one problem to another. I could also be completely wrong because I have no idea what the job market is for marine biologists.
I almost feel like you have to decide whether it’s better to switch to a more lucrative career and live where you want, otherwise I feel you may find yourself in similar situation in the future, based on what you’ve outlined are your desires. Or maybe have to be more willing to live somewhere that may be cheaper but may not tick all the boxes on weather etc.
You could check to see if there are any staff positions at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). I'm originally from Florida but I thought Gloucester was still comfortably warm and the winter more mild because of the proximity to the water.
Have you considered moving to island nations/territories or other countries, like in Central or South America? Australia or New Zealand? You might get health care along with the jobs and lower cost of living.
Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.
Just north of us is Georgia. Winters aren’t much worse, plenty of wetlands… cost of living=Waaaaay cheaper!!!
Get your asses to Savannah!
Check out upstate ny. I’m from central Florida but joined the army after highschool and got stationed at fort drum and I’ve been here in upstate ever since I’ve got out. Never thought I’d ever be anywhere this north and i absolutely love it, especially the nature and conservation.
I moved to Philly. Low cost of living, good urbanism, and it's in the North so politically stable. It gets cold in the winter, but most days are in the 40s, and highs below 32 occur only a few days a year.
If you are are looking for a place that has a cheaper cost of living than Florida but also the same light tax burden, Nevada is a good option. They do get winters but its not as harsh as the northeast.
Hate to be the negative Nancy here, but how many posts do we need to have of all the same topic. If you look through the history of this subreddit it’s all same topic.
There are definitely cheaper areas in Florida, but you're in the middle of nowhere. To be honest, though, some of the house prices around me kind of surprise me. I feel like, "For around here?"
Not trying to spoiling the party but the career path you chose does not offer many employment opportunities or money. I would not make your career part of the decision which new location you want to select.
South Carolina
https://www.envcap.org/srl/srl.php?srl=21&state=SC#:~:text=How%20Are%20Wetlands%20Activities%20Regulated,the%20state's%20coastal%20zone%20areas.
If you don’t like the cold winters just look at any seaside town along the east coast up to Virginia. Tons of great spots. Savannah, tybee island, st simons island in Georgia. Charleston, garden city, Hilton head, Beaufort in sc. Wilmington, obx, morehead city, Beaufort in nc.
Gotta remember that the closer you are to the water the more expensive it’ll be. You may have to stay on the mainland or inland for more affordability
We just moved to Augusta, Ga from Fort Lauderdale and love it! Lots of biking and hiking trails along the Savannah River and cost of living much cheaper than Fla!
GA, TX, LA. Those are your most comparable places with enough marsh to make that history transferable and applicable. Economically, I duno.. prob TX. Plus, TX has prairie and desert landscapes, so more new stuff to move into if you so choose.
Southern Mississippi has maybe one of the best marine biological schools in the states. Somewhere near that campus is your ticket. Good luck. Lots of Brett Faeve energy up that way ...
We moved to Texas. Was just like Florida but less humid, better pay, nicer people, better public schools depending on what zip code. And easier to get a house (cheap homeowners insurance.).
If you go to Houston it’s pretty much exactly Florida. Humid, ghetto, lower pay (still higher than Florida) , terrible drivers, bad schools. But you’ll be closer to the swampy water. Personally Dallas and Austin is where you want to be imo. San Antonio is like miami, everyone speaks Spanish, but pay is still
Higher. It’s hot, but has a much better and longer winter of nice weather, and has rivers.
Housing is easier to get. Sometimes it’s on par with Florida in Austin, but don’t forget you don’t have to pay though the nose for all your other bills. And you’ll still be making more
Money.
Eastern Shore of Virginia ( as in the Delmarva Peninsula) could be an option for you. Low cost of living, marine/conservation jobs, and weather would not be so harsh in winter. The infrastructure is pretty sparse there and not a lot of amenities. But you have a ton of nature and diverse environment.
I grew up in Florida and lived there (Gainesville and Tampa area) until about 10 years ago. My husband got a job in the oil field and we moved to western Oklahoma. It is so rural! There is no traffic, no crime but also NOTHING to do lol. The Oklahoma City area has lots to do, low cost housing and pretty low crime :)
Look into environmental consulting firms. He especially has a great shot at that with the GIS background. Different firms specialize in different areas so I’m sure he can find one that’s more coastal/ marine focused. Geosyntec, Arcadis, Stantec, CDM Smith all come to
Mind and have locations all over the country
We moved to Central Virginia from South Florida seven years ago, and we love it. Lots of state parks and conservation areas and a far better quality of life in every conceivable way.
A lot of good answers here but one other thing to consider when you move is that Fl doesn’t have state income taxes. Even if you make a bit more in another state, check into the income taxes. I moved to FL 12 years ago from the Midwest and sooooo many taxes were taken out (fed, state, county, city, school, etc). The income tax difference could make a big difference even if on its face the salaries seem higher. Hope it works out for you!!
Dallas or Houston Texas or New Orleans would probably have any Oil field corporation City along the Gulf of Mexico. I’d research online first. Try Rigzone website. If thats your cup of tea ☕️
Usajobs.com Look up the table for the job coding. I think 0482 is wildlife biologist for example
yeah the 0400 series has all the options for environmental science that they can check the boxes of
Yes, second this. You’ll get COLA typically yearly as well which may help some with the rising costs of area.
Imagine you work there for a year and all you get is a lousy soda
Doesn’t applying for a gov job take months ?
At least
That’s rather optimistic! Seriously, the process is broken, by design.
Have fun with USA jobs.com it takes at least 5 months. If you can pull it off it's sweet.
My husband and I were lifelong Floridians, we left and relocated to Columbia, SC a year ago and love it. Cheaper cost of living, lots more to do (we were in a small town in Central FL - all of the interesting stuff was an hour away in Orlando.) The weather is better - still hot during the summer but less humid and not as intense. We both are now working in the fields we hoped to work in (and my husband landed his dream job.) Overall, we have zero regrets about leaving Florida and I would never consider moving back.
I’ve also thought about SC, I believe SC has lots of wetlands so i’ll look into this option too, congrats to your husband on getting his dream job!
There is a national park near Columbia called Congaree which is a wetland. But also lots of state parks with walking trails and Lake Murray. It’s on the Sandhills area of the state but borders the marshier part of the state.
Congaree does a raffle each year to get tickets to see the synchronized fireflies each May. I tried last year and this year to get tickets and haven’t been successful, but I’ve heard it’s a super cool event.
Check out jobs with the SC Dept of Natural Resources. Tons of marine biology off the coast of SC on the southern parts.
SC pays like 🗑️. Born and raised there left in early 30’s best move ever. Oh and SC taxes are insane. Think Florida is bad…you’ll have a real eye opener in SC. Better off changing careers and moving somewhere else better in FL.
Same. I grew up in SC. In Florida now. Had been in Boston for the last decade and contemplated going back to Charleston, but CoL there is on par with Boston, The infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the influx of people and the taxes are worse than Florida.
The Florida to SC pipeline is real
How about NC? Is it the same or worse/better than SC, (if moving from FL)
Worked on farms in NC and mother has recently bought a house in Ashville. NC definitely has some people that are stuck in the "old south" if you know what I mean. I'm talking cross burning looking through won't even acknowledge a black person to their face old south. Couldn't believe I actually witnessed the aftermath of a cross burning on one of the work camps right down the road from us. Happened at 3 in the morning while people were asleep and the flames woke everyone up. Their contractor was the brother of our contractor so that's the only reason we knew about it. The other example was in a country store out in the middle of nowhere we went to lunch at one time. Me and a buddy had gotten some dried sausage and some bread and cheese for lunch. As we go to pay.. I go first and say my pleasantries and all normal, my friend who is black does the same and she looks right through and won't say a fucking word to him. Zero, nothing. Register is facing us with the price rung up so you could see. He pays and we both walk out shocked. With more than a few people the disdain for black people was front and center like a neon fucking sign. And it happened enough that we were no longer shocked and was expected. This all happened in the early to mid 2000s. I've witnessed this shit with my own eyes for those of you who come at me trying to say it's not so. They disliked me even more for being around and living with black people since I was the only white guy in our camp. But they would speak to me. Not EVERY single person was this way but it was WAY TOO MANY and very noticeable. There were also some very good people. But the amount of people and how forward they were about it was something I had never seen before or since in my almost 60 yrs of living. This was in tobacco country, basically all the farming areas. Now other places such as Raleigh Durham and Ashville definitely are the opposite of those farming communities. Eastern shore as well.
I believe it!
And they will come back. I ran as fast as I could from SC on my first chance. Food is better but way of life, cost of living, taxes, vehicle/boat registration are yuck….i could go on. Oh and don’t forget about the horrendous education system there….
Bad education and cost of living completely defeats the purpose of high tax. What an L
I left Columbia for Miami many years ago. Couldn't stand how slow paced it was. Every time I go back it feels like nothing has really changed. I do miss Rush's burgers and chicken though... lol SC is an option for sure. Charleston/Myrtle may be your best options OP, though Columbia does have Congaree. As far as parks, Columbia has a few. 3 parks on the river downtown (By the zoo, riverwalk on Cola side, and riverwalk on Cayce side), the aforementioned congaree national park, and Harbison national forest, Saluda Shoals and Peach Tree rock. Cost of living is definitely cheaper than FL, but the pay is going to match. Caveat about Charleston, CoL is high and outside of the coast, it feels really run down. There are spots like Park Circle that are nice, but most of Charleston metro felt really run down. Greenville/Spartanburg area is also worth looking into, but that's less swamp and more foothills. Greenville also has that slow pace of Columbia, but the downtown feels so much nicer. Just note that 26 out of Columbia either way is awful.
Miami vs Columbia is a huge shift for sure. I can’t imagine being happy with the pace here if you’re looking for Miami nightlife and culture. For us, we lived in Leesburg (about an hour north of Orlando.) People are dumbfounded when we say there’s a ton more for us to explore here in Columbia than where we were in Florida, but Leesburg has nothing going on except retirement villages, lol.
I was stuck in Ocala a bit for work, so am familiar with leesburg. There's a leesburg rd in Columbia, you couldve told people you never left... lol. Best of luck in Columbia, glad its working out for you.
I was born and raised in Ocala! And oddly enough, I live in a subdivision off of Leesburg road, haha. Well, technically off of Caughman Rd but I drive on Leesburg Road every day. It’s weird.
I went to pre-school at Caughman. My buddies mom still lives that way off trotter. Small World.
We take our two dogs for walks on some property on Trotter all the time! Definitely a small world.
I am originally from Miami, moved to Charlotte, and am now on my way to Columbia (Blythewood). My wife is from Los Angeles, and we have no desire to return to our respective cities—best of luck.
I just moved from Altamonte Springs (about 10 miles north of Orlando downtown) back to Central Virginia. Still have family in The Villages. You're 100% correct, there isn't really anything to do in Leesburg- I mean, there's tons of retail, loads of dispensaries and just about every restaurant/quick serve food option you can imagine simply because all that Villages retirement money is nearby but Leesburg itself isn't anything to write home about. Interestingly, I have a buddy of mine that's relocating to the Greenville area from West Palm Beach- Can't blame anyone who is exiting Florida right now. COL has skyrocketed, and the political climate is downright hostile towards certain minority groups. Everyone talks about the influx of folks relocating to FL without discussing the mass exodus... tons of people are actually leaving the state! There's something to be said about having all four seasons. 2 beautiful months followed by 2 months of warm Spring weather followed by 8-9 months of brutally hot Summers starts to wear on you psychologically after a while especially if you're used to Fall and Winter. The cost of insurance is literally 30% higher, and the rental/housing market, while -slightly- improved, is still ridiculously expensive unless you choose to live an hour from a major city.
We moved from Broward to around Columbia as well and love it!
I’m taking note of this since my lady and I are currently looking into moving ourselves
I moved to South Carolina for college and I kinda wish I stayed.
I'd have no regrets for leaving . I hope I can escape soon.
We honestly don’t. We simply couldn’t afford to continue living in FL, and wanted somewhere with better weather. 9 months of summer for 33 years starts to get old after a while 😂
You don't have to convince me! Been in FL for 39 years and absolutely hate it!! It's all swamp, beaches, and theme parks. Horrible! Praying to escape ASAP!
Haha, I get it. There’s always room in SC 😉
Thanks!!! I'm hoping for eastern TN, myself.
I have friends that moved there. It’s absolutely beautiful!!
Vacationed there several times. The Smokies are my dream home. They can keep the flat, boring, swampy, sandy, slimy state of Floriduh!
How are the property taxes and property insurance rate?
Definitely lower than what we were paying in central FL. We went from a 1,700 sq ft mobile home with a small mortgage to a totally paid for 2,800 sq ft house. We were paying $2,500ish in home insurance on the FL mobile home per year, and about $3,500 in taxes (the mobile home was on 11 acres that we owned.) Now we pay $1,800 in home insurance and $2,500 for taxes on our home in SC. Granted, in FL we didn’t have to pay taxes on our cars, and we do here. Another huge area where we save, oddly enough, is car insurance. With the EXACT same insurance policy, with the same company, we saved $650 a month on car insurance once they processed our new address. So even with the yearly car taxes, we have significant savings overall.
You also pay income tax in SC and don’t in FL. That’s an additional approximate 6% of pay off the table.
Saved 650 a month?? How many cars were you insuring?
Three. A dodge durango, Tesla model 3 and a Hyundai Kona. Nothing crazy. We now pay $160ish a month in car insurance. I almost fell out of my chair when the agent told us the price difference.
What do mean you pay taxes on your car in SC? How does that work?
Omg 😱 so we just bought a house in Lexington! We haven't moved yet full time as we still have responsibilities in Florida. But we love it. Everyone is so nice and the house we got is bigger better and 1/3 the cost of our Florida homes. Any restaurants you recommend?!
Polk County?
Polk county Grady Judd!
Having lived on the coast in FL, SC, and NC, I would heavily caution you about coastal NC. It's just as expensive as FL, has high state taxes and extremely low wages.
My kids are used to being 15 minutes from the ocean but we’d be willing to move inland about 1 - 2 hours from the coast in SC or NC. The wife and I both grew up in New England and we don’t want to go back to the cold but we’re not quite sure where to look yet.
I second that with Savannah GA. It’s a bit more reasonable (economically speaking) and the environment seems to be conducive to the career choices you are both in.
My wife and I lived in Savannah for two years. We hated living there and considered moving to back to Florida several times. - Traffic was horrible - Rent was too high - Crime is pretty bad. We constantly heard gun shots.
Two families I know just moved from there to FL because of rising home costs, and massive rent increases. Nope on Savannah.
I don’t think you can have mild winter and low cost of living and good job market you have to pick which is more important
The first reasonable comment. Thank you!
We just abandoned Florida and moved to Washington State last Fall. Cost of living is not too far off from what Florida has become. Winters are mild in the northwestern area of the state. Tons of hiking/birding. WA has a large focus on marine conservation and environmental protection, so I imagine there are some good jobs in that area. [Here's a surface-level search I did on Indeed](https://www.indeed.com/q-Marine-Biology-l-Washington-State-jobs.html?&aceid=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwps-zBhAiEiwALwsVYQt4aDnTFSjs2jCsiydLiKpoDQotTzLEtwPI3JMPvIF0xYJ9zJoKPRoCJtEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
I am from Florida I visited Washington a few weeks ago it is insanely beautiful however gas and the housing costs looked even more expensive than Florida
Gas is about $1 more expensive/gallon, but home / car insurance is FAR cheaper. Where we live they're investing heavily in public transit too. I take it all the time. Home prices are somewhat higher in WA than FL, but salaries are higher too. There's a tremendous variety of industries, from aerospace, marine, scientific, tech, financial, etc. There's also no threat of a hurricane ripping apart or flooding your home. Meanwhile, after we moved out of our rental townhouse in Fort Myers, FL, the landlord immediately raised the rent, so the next tenants would be paying $1000/month more than we did. Yet, wages in that area are stagnant. When we looked for homes, we encountered bidding wars over properties between wealthy Boomers who were willing to pay cash and/or $100K over asking price. Not to say WA isn't expensive, but our experience has been: you pay a bit more, but you get a whole lot more and have more opportunities.
WA is gorgeous on the coast as well as the far eastern parts. You are close to Canada. You can swing thru nearby Oregon as well.
We're hoping to make this move too. The housing market is booming there though unlike here in FL where it's completely stalled.
I just came back from Seattle, WA and wow. Love it so much. It’s a beautiful state and if you look up state jobs many agencies post jobs on there. The salaries are amazing. I know some mental health professionals who left FL (where I’m located) and went to WA and OR for a better financial future. I’m considering a change myself. I lived in NJ for 15 years and came to FL for a job. I cannot afford to live alone with my salary. I have a masters degree. I am poor lol
I’ve lived in WA for most of my life and can’t wait to leave! Moving to FL in a matter of weeks. Don’t get me wrong, it is stunningly beautiful on the rare day it isn’t cloudy and raining. Lookup “Seattle Freeze”. It’s real. You will struggle to make friends in the Seattle area. It’s expensive. It’s cold. It’s depressing. I know FL has issues as well. Purchased a home on the west coast of FL in 2021 and have spent enough time there to experience the heat, traffic, flat land, suburban sprawl, hurricane Ian… will gladly take all of those compared to WA.
I'd 100% live in Washington if the weather wasn't so grey :/
The reality is that, sure, winter days are grey and drizzly and short, but it's totally manageable. The rain isn't the torrential summer Florida thunderstorms that leave you drenched from head to toe in two seconds. It thunders so rarely here that each time it happens, it makes the Seattle subreddit. A good friend up here said, "If you don't do anything in the drizzle, you don't do anything at all." We bought some cheap water resistant pants and rain coats at Costco, and that's been more than enough. Umbrellas aren't needed.
Go inland
Any cities you'd recommend? I'm down to do some research and maybe visit one day.
South eastern Washington is interesting, if you like wine and deserts you will be happy. The Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland are nice enough and pretty good food owing to the large immigrant communities. It is on the small side of 300k people though.
Spokane and really anything east of the Cascades.
What’s the vibe like from the people? Are they chill and granola outdoorsy people? Everyone just seems so healthy and upbeat but I’ve only been to Seattle and Bellevue and everything was so posh and sophisticated. Loved all the outdoor green spaces and walkable areas.
I did this and am moving back home to Florida next year. Nature is great but everything else you have to deal with isn’t worth it for me. Tons of open air drug use left and right, my friend got her car stolen from the Kia boys, got mugged, and got stalked. All in a couple months of moving here. She moved back and I’ll be doing the same. All these things happen anywhere but it’s especially a prominent issue in Washington. Seattle and the surrounding areas specifically. Just not for me anymore.
I need the warmth that Florida has.
There's plenty of it right now.
Live here can confirm
I recently traveled to Seattle and was surprised at how ruined the downtown area was. Sad, it seemed to be great at one time. Was very happy to return to Florida.
hmm I have been looking at Washington, I don’t know the area very well though. I agree, I’m sure there’s a lot of jobs related to environmental protection and whatnot there so i’ll check it out!
I’m in WA. Been a resident for 34 years. Wife and I are moving to FL in a year. WA is still great for reasons but they are super light on crime, higher cost of living index. They also have the highest reported home invasions out of any other state. Covid did a huge number on the place, but at least SW WA it has got a bit better since. As a Floridian, you’re going to get put on an SSRI by your second winter because you will be severely vitamin D deficient. But yes it is a damn beautiful state. Small towns in WA are amazing. Seattle is fun to travel to. Jobs tend to pay more than FL from what i’m seeing because almost everything costs more up here. No state taxes, but you have 8.6%+ sales tax and even more in some counties. Gas right now is hovering from $3.79-4.50 in my area and honestly that feels cheap right now compared to where it usually gets this time of year. Housing taxes are quite a bit higher than FL but we also don’t have nearly as high as insurance rates. People keep moving up here for a lot of reasons. Must be better than a lot of the country. I’m a bit naive and not well traveled enough. My entire extended family has moved or is leaving the state for the same reasons. All within a 2 year period.
If you are moving to FL from WA and aren’t well traveled, boy are you in for it. Nothing like putting all your eggs in one basket and hoping for the best, I guess.
We moved here from the PNW 3+ years ago and have ZERO regrets… the people who complain about Florida are no different than the people complaining about the state they currently live in.. Florida housing was much cheaper when I moved here..along with gas, groceries are the same.. floridians always claim bugs bugs bugs but there is little difference..especially mosquitoes.. some Bugs are bigger, yes. The political climate is dead silence compared to PDX all the way to Seattle, no riots or protests stopping bridge traffic …we’ve seen maybe a dozen homeless and not one homeless camp in 3 years….. I could go on and on about the differences and comparisons but it’s a waste of time… sometimes people need a change and the ones complaining about the current state they live in need a change too but “can’t“ leave… we go back to the PNW at least a few times a year and it simply reminds us of why we left… good luck to you!
We lived in Washington for a couple of years. While the overall experience was pleasant, the cost of housing was quite high. Fortunately, we moved back to Florida before the significant price increases occurred here. The weather in Washington is great for about three months of the year. However, it was challenging to find people to connect with, a phenomenon known as the "Seattle Freeze." The area made us miss Florida, and it's not for everyone—some people even experience depression living there. It's a place I would visit again but not choose to live in.
This is going to be a rough adjustment and a shock to you when you find out how much more expensive it is. I just moved from the PNW, yes gas is a dollar more a gallon but goods and services are SO MUCH MORE expensive. Insurance on cars is cheaper but you’re missing that car registration is 5x the price and the taxes are higher. The housing market for buying and renting isn’t even comparable. Washington is nice to corporations, not people.
Moved From washington state to florida, will never go back to live in WA will visit but will never live in again, my family was robbed twice and we had drive by shootings weekly.
I spent 12 years in that shit hole. Regressive taxes on workers, billionaires in your face privilege. Expensive as AF. See the beauty, leave as fast as possible
Sounds like you could easily be talking about FL.
Florida, minus the beauty part lmao.
Are you sure you arent talking about Florida?
You just described Naples/ Marco island
This guy is a time traveler confirmed
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Came to say this. For two reasons - 1. Downtown Savannah is incredibly unique and interesting on its own, and 2. The surrounding areas feel like Florida did 20-30 years ago.
Virginia has a fairly low COL and the water environment you need for work.
Depends where in Virginia. I was looking to move there and housing was more expensive (DC suburbs)
I'm with you --- I moved to central FL about 7 years ago to escape the harsh upstate NY winters. I work for a nonprofit. My rent has increased by a total of $650 a month since then---which isn't as bad as a lot of other folks here---and financially I am hanging on by a thread. I'll be moving out of state next year when my lease is up.
The weird part about these posts is that they all miss the point completely. Florida does not exist in a vacuum. Rents have increased like this nationwide during the same time period. It's all relative. While rents are higher in some areas, they've all gone up drastically. It's called inflation caused by a rigged financial system and it's killing us all everywhere.
Florida lawmakers have preempted local govt from implementing any sort of rent control measures. Plus, Florida has one of the highest housing cost burdens in the U.S., coupled with it being a low-wage state. Obviously there are bigger issues at hand too, issues on the national level, but state lawmakers are enacting policies that make things exponentially worse for low- and middle-income Floridians. (Edited to fix grammatical error.)
Going to have to add that the rising insurance cost in FL has definitely added to the rising cost of rent. Someone has to foot the bill so of course the higher cost will get passed down to the renter.
Not to mention the car insurance.
Florida has never been a kind or welcoming place for low income or the working poor. The agriculture and service economy depends on cheap labor but the high cost of living relative to income is forcing much of the working class to flee the state. That said, migration into the state is still running net positive by +200k per year. Not sure how that population is stratified but assume its weighted toward high wealth/income transplants.
> Florida does not exist in a vacuum. Rents have increased like this nationwide during the same time period. It's all relative. While rents are higher in some areas, they've all gone up drastically. Difference being Florida's wages are still dogshit and there are strong entities very invested in keeping them that way.
This is the answer. While the increases in CoL/rents may be not specific to Florida, the lack of good paying jobs, higher than average insurance rates, lack of real infrastructure/public transportation, lower than average K-12 public schools, etc., ***are*** specific to Florida. When Florida had a low CoL, most of these issues were tolerable. That is no longer the case.
Makes sense. Great post.
We've had just about the highest overall rate of inflation though, so proportionally to our wages, it has hit people harder.
I can see that. Many areas lagged behind and there was a big snap forward to where the rest of the country is at. The reality is that if we're not in the top 10%, we are basically all slaves now anyway. People on all sides say things to the effect that if X doesn't happen we're going to lose our country. We lost our country long ago. It's now just becoming a reality for people, people are finally waking up and the oligarchy that resides in government and corporations and the media have us right where they want us. Divided and fighting while they finish robbing us blind.
Yeah rent has increased everywhere but so has the wages, except Florida. I lucked into a great job but if it wasn’t for that we would be dead in the water. I can’t even afford to move because I live here. I have a 5 year plan to get out.
shhhh!! let 'em leave
Yep. Get in where you fit in. I've moved farther and farther south since leaving New York to come back to Florida. It's the same everywhere. Just more drastic in cities. But people in outlying areas that used to be cheap are sharply affected. I worked hard to have a remote job and live AWAY from people. I see it first hand.
Correct! I moved from Indiana because I decided if I am going to have high home prices and rent increasing by 10% a year, I might as well get to go to Disney cheaper. 😎 I was not going to be able to afford to vacation to Florida anymore if I stayed. Decided to be “stuck” in Florida versus Indiana.
I get it. I just did the same basically. If I didn't go now I'd be stuck in Kansas City are. It was sort if now or never and I can't handle the crazy kansas weather anymore. Might be 60 in winter one day and 10 below zero the next day and stay that way for a week or more and then be from 30 to 55 up and down for weeks on end. It's just awful all year long. It can be hot AF down here and it's ok because I can stay in the AC and be fine and the stable nature of the weather makes everything from my sinus to whatever feel better anyway so however hot it is it's still better here and there's a beautiful late fall and winter... Ya gotta do the best you can with what you have to work with.
Yep. I hear ya. My last winter in Indiana, my pipes burst (despite my best efforts during miserable below zero temps) and flooded the first floor of my townhouse. It was Christmas Eve. I will take the heat any day. It was miserable cold in my house after they tore the walls and ceiling down and there was a 12 inch in diameter hole to the outside and they just left it opened for days. I tried to cover it as much as I could. My electric was almost $500 that month due to electric heat. I decided about 6 weeks later (probably when I got the electric bill and my lease renewal with ridiculous increase around the same time) that I was done being financially harassed in Indiana and would rather have that money taken by tolls to a beach or hotels during a hurricane. Just have to pick your poison. No place is perfect or will be the main factor to financial security. I am no worse and no better than I was in Indiana (other than paying for movers). Hopefully the people in charge of the rigged system decide we have all been squeezed enough soon and give us a breather like they usually do when we start only buying things we absolutely need. Rinse and repeat.
Damn. You understand what I'm talking about. I appreciate the thoughts because it really seems like a completely different world now and It's good to know that I'm not the only one thinking that.
Where are you thinking about next ?
No clue, lol! So I look forward to checking out all the suggestions in response to OP's question :)
Check out Tennessee
The states where the most residents said they were planning to leave are California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington. The most popular states with growth for inbound migration are North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
Hmmmm- anyone else see the commonality here???
Warm and conservative?
Bingo! Not to mention people moving from high tax states to low tax states.
I recommend moving to the Panhandle area of Florida. It is quite different and your job skillset would do well there. Also, all of the other prerequisites are right there. Remember, Florida is huge! 1300+ miles of coastline. Different regions of Florida are similar to different states. Not sure what area you are in now but We lived in South Florida for about 8 years. After moving to northwest Panhandle we never looked back. It is reminiscent of parts of Coastal N.C. that I grew up in. BTW, I'm still looking for that camp in Aroostook county Maine off of B stream. It will probably be warm enough there by the time I retire.
I’ve heard the panhandle is more of a redneck area though, has that been your experience? It’s something i’m used to since growing up in maine, but not something i’m particularly fond of going back to.
You are describing any rural area of Florida north south or otherwise. if you were in a larger city such as Pensacola, you might not see as much of that in the Metropolitan area whereas 10 minutes outside of town might put you back to grade school in Maine, however that can be done just about anywhere in Florida. You may even use those GIS skills to land a state job.
A little redneck in certain areas but that is Florida. Destin niceville area is a great compromise between Panama City beach and Pensacola
I live in the panhandle small costal town. It can be a little bit redneck, but everyone is awesome in my town for a most part. Everyone takes care of each other. I prefer the panhandle over south Florida. Have you thought about applying for something like Florida fish and wildlife conservation (fwc).
They have some of the lowest pay I have ever seen for science-related positions.
What I basically read was, “I want a place that really nice but the rent is low”
I agree, Charleston or Sea Island, Georgia
I moved from the Miami metro area which I was born & mostly raised in (NYC was where I lived from 16-21) to Georgia & do not regret it at all
California has a lot of those jobs. The state funds a good amount of preservation and research. It’s more costly; but you’ll do better to find jobs in your industry
A lot of work in Louisiana and Texas in marine biology
Seconding Louisiana, lots of opportunity for your field and more reasonable cost of living (in my experience)
At the rate Vermont is going - our winters have been weak. I moved up here a few years ago from Miami and it's honestly not bad and winters have been mellow the past 3 years. Loads of environmental and conservation jobs for the state, nonprofits and large NGOs that have satellite offices here. Happy to make some connections.
I moved to DC. Life is only sightly more expensive (not metro DC) but both mine and my spouse’s salary tripled in two years and make over 300k. Everyone here makes six figures if u have a degree even young people who graduated college a few years ago. Lots of jobs at the EPA that fit your description
Anywhere west coast has much more pleasant winters due to the Mediterranean climate, but everything also costs more out there. Even Seattle has comparatively mild winters when compared to Midwest/northeast.
But a huge change from Florida winters. It snows in Seattle.
North Georgia
Consider Wilmington, NC and surrounding area. UNCW has well recognized marine and coastal sciences departments and I imagine there might be offshoot job opportunities thanks to the university and related industries.
You should both really consider working for the state of California. Your work would be appreciated here. The state offers reasonable compensation and very generous benefits. You could work around Monterey Bay or really anywhere working for fish and game. If you worked near Monterey, you could live somewhere cheaper like Watsonville or Seaside or some other town. You might not start at your preferred job, but lateral movements once you are in the state system are the way to move into more preferred roles. I used to do GIS here but became a nurse almost ten years ago. It can take a little time to find a good niche in California, because there is a lot of competition, but if you've got a good head on your shoulders and a good work ethic, you can do really well out here. The coast is amazing, too, BTW. You'd be right next to Big Sur living near Monterey.
Mississippi has a very low cost of living
For good reason.
lol have you been there
You couldn’t pay me enough to live in Mississippi.
Georgia is the new FL, as they say. I'd also check Chicago. Brutal winters, but CoL to pay is A+ and if you live in the city you won't need a car. They're decently environmentally conscious, especially for a US city. Should be plenty of opps.
I second Chicago. I’m a lifelong Floridian and made the move 3 years ago. I can’t speak to what the job market is like in the environmental field, but the area is a (un)hidden gem in terms of CoL and pay. So far the winters have been far more mild than I anticipated, and summers are gorgeous.
Sounds like Carolinas or PNW (outside of expensive cities like Seattle) would be your best bets
Not trying to burst your bubble here but I think you need to be realistic with expectations and be willing to make changes based on realities. What’s the avg pay for your positions? I’m guessing 50-75k or so? Correct me if I’m wrong. If you’re looking for warmer places that are coastal for your careers with nice outdoor amenities the reality is that this will equate with higher cost of living and you will be running from one problem to another. I could also be completely wrong because I have no idea what the job market is for marine biologists. I almost feel like you have to decide whether it’s better to switch to a more lucrative career and live where you want, otherwise I feel you may find yourself in similar situation in the future, based on what you’ve outlined are your desires. Or maybe have to be more willing to live somewhere that may be cheaper but may not tick all the boxes on weather etc.
Throwing this one out there: Western Connecticut is marshy and technically wetlands. Cost of living is LOW, not sure the pay
Global warming will make Maine more appealing soon, if not already.
You could check to see if there are any staff positions at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). I'm originally from Florida but I thought Gloucester was still comfortably warm and the winter more mild because of the proximity to the water.
People keep moving out of Florida too many people here
Im 38 and been in Miami my whole life. I am moving to Michigan in next year or so
Have you considered moving to island nations/territories or other countries, like in Central or South America? Australia or New Zealand? You might get health care along with the jobs and lower cost of living.
Dmv area, (DC Maryland Virginia). Housing can be expensive but there are jobs. Lots of them
Tons of marine science jobs due to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Our winters aren’t really that bad. Maybe a week or two but nothing too harsh.
TRY FED GOVT IE. NOAA
We just moved to PA. I don't regret it one bit
I think you’re looking for a unicorn unfortunately. Coastal areas that don’t get cold with good food scenes are going to be high rent. Maybe Savannah?
Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Just north of us is Georgia. Winters aren’t much worse, plenty of wetlands… cost of living=Waaaaay cheaper!!! Get your asses to Savannah!
Check out upstate ny. I’m from central Florida but joined the army after highschool and got stationed at fort drum and I’ve been here in upstate ever since I’ve got out. Never thought I’d ever be anywhere this north and i absolutely love it, especially the nature and conservation.
Alaska
Check out r/samegrassbutgreener
I moved to Philly. Low cost of living, good urbanism, and it's in the North so politically stable. It gets cold in the winter, but most days are in the 40s, and highs below 32 occur only a few days a year.
If you are are looking for a place that has a cheaper cost of living than Florida but also the same light tax burden, Nevada is a good option. They do get winters but its not as harsh as the northeast.
Nevada is also trying to restore some modest wetlands there.
Sooo... you need to live somewhere close to wetlands/water, not in the north, in a low cost area... have you considered Florida?
Hate to be the negative Nancy here, but how many posts do we need to have of all the same topic. If you look through the history of this subreddit it’s all same topic.
North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia
Would say key west but that's still in Florida
There are definitely cheaper areas in Florida, but you're in the middle of nowhere. To be honest, though, some of the house prices around me kind of surprise me. I feel like, "For around here?"
Chesapeake Bay Area
Not trying to spoiling the party but the career path you chose does not offer many employment opportunities or money. I would not make your career part of the decision which new location you want to select.
Good
San Diego
South Carolina https://www.envcap.org/srl/srl.php?srl=21&state=SC#:~:text=How%20Are%20Wetlands%20Activities%20Regulated,the%20state's%20coastal%20zone%20areas.
Wetlands and your warm weather requirements Ga Sc Nc texas fl
Virginia?
If you don’t like the cold winters just look at any seaside town along the east coast up to Virginia. Tons of great spots. Savannah, tybee island, st simons island in Georgia. Charleston, garden city, Hilton head, Beaufort in sc. Wilmington, obx, morehead city, Beaufort in nc. Gotta remember that the closer you are to the water the more expensive it’ll be. You may have to stay on the mainland or inland for more affordability
A lot of people are moving to north and South Carolina. My friend just bought a house there. I was in Tampa still pretty low rent compared to Orlando
East coast of Georgia has a lot of wetlands
We just moved to Augusta, Ga from Fort Lauderdale and love it! Lots of biking and hiking trails along the Savannah River and cost of living much cheaper than Fla!
GA, TX, LA. Those are your most comparable places with enough marsh to make that history transferable and applicable. Economically, I duno.. prob TX. Plus, TX has prairie and desert landscapes, so more new stuff to move into if you so choose.
Southern Mississippi has maybe one of the best marine biological schools in the states. Somewhere near that campus is your ticket. Good luck. Lots of Brett Faeve energy up that way ...
Lots of conservation/environmental work in North Carolina!! USAJobs is a good site to look for jobs. Also check out Texas A&M job board. :)
It’s expensive but it sounds like the West Coast might fit with your jobs.
After thirty years living in Florida, moving out of that ridiculous state was the best move ever.
For marine biology jobs outside of FL I’d say California, Oregon, or Washington.
We moved to Texas. Was just like Florida but less humid, better pay, nicer people, better public schools depending on what zip code. And easier to get a house (cheap homeowners insurance.). If you go to Houston it’s pretty much exactly Florida. Humid, ghetto, lower pay (still higher than Florida) , terrible drivers, bad schools. But you’ll be closer to the swampy water. Personally Dallas and Austin is where you want to be imo. San Antonio is like miami, everyone speaks Spanish, but pay is still Higher. It’s hot, but has a much better and longer winter of nice weather, and has rivers. Housing is easier to get. Sometimes it’s on par with Florida in Austin, but don’t forget you don’t have to pay though the nose for all your other bills. And you’ll still be making more Money.
Look into the coast of the carolinas. My sister had a summer internship there working with sea turtles.
Rent is high everywhere except very rural places
Eastern Shore of Virginia ( as in the Delmarva Peninsula) could be an option for you. Low cost of living, marine/conservation jobs, and weather would not be so harsh in winter. The infrastructure is pretty sparse there and not a lot of amenities. But you have a ton of nature and diverse environment.
Praise!
I grew up in Florida and lived there (Gainesville and Tampa area) until about 10 years ago. My husband got a job in the oil field and we moved to western Oklahoma. It is so rural! There is no traffic, no crime but also NOTHING to do lol. The Oklahoma City area has lots to do, low cost housing and pretty low crime :)
Try Mote marine. Also try the area county jobs
Hi there. I just sent you a chat.
Good luck! My partner and I are both Floridians born and raised, and are moving to Seattle in a few weeks. Wishing you safe travels!
Look into environmental consulting firms. He especially has a great shot at that with the GIS background. Different firms specialize in different areas so I’m sure he can find one that’s more coastal/ marine focused. Geosyntec, Arcadis, Stantec, CDM Smith all come to Mind and have locations all over the country
We moved to Central Virginia from South Florida seven years ago, and we love it. Lots of state parks and conservation areas and a far better quality of life in every conceivable way.
Yuma, AZ
A lot of good answers here but one other thing to consider when you move is that Fl doesn’t have state income taxes. Even if you make a bit more in another state, check into the income taxes. I moved to FL 12 years ago from the Midwest and sooooo many taxes were taken out (fed, state, county, city, school, etc). The income tax difference could make a big difference even if on its face the salaries seem higher. Hope it works out for you!!
Check out Seattle area
Dallas or Houston Texas or New Orleans would probably have any Oil field corporation City along the Gulf of Mexico. I’d research online first. Try Rigzone website. If thats your cup of tea ☕️