The Cost of Living In Tallahassee 2023
According to RentCafe, and numerous other sources, the cost of living in Tallahassee, Florida is 5% lower than for the State of Florida. It is also 4% lower than the national average. Making Tallahassee one of the most affordable cities in Florida.
There’s a lot to love about Tallahassee. Much of it is more in tune with the agriculture and Southern hospitality of our northern neighbor, Georgia. People moving to Tallahassee want to know what it costs to live in a safe neighborhood. Rental prices are rising as the demand has increased. The costs of groceries have increased, as well as insurance and gas.
Housing Costs for Tallahassee
We will talk in detail about the cost of housing next week. We will compare what $1400 in a rental looks like to $1400 in a mortgage. Today, I want to give you a warning about the rental market.
The rental market here can be a bit like the wild west. There are very few professionals involved to help navigate the process. Most fall rentals are negotiated directly with the owner or the large apartment corporation. Most ‘student’ rentals for the fall are locked in by May. That is true for apartment complexes and homes. The timing of your move to the area can make a huge difference if you find when for a rental.
Because the house rentals are negotiated directly with the owner in most cases, you must be careful. Shady people are posing as owners just to take your money! We have had renters show up at our vacant houses on the market and tell us that they paid thousands to rent the place. They are out that money with no recourse. So, please verify before you lease.
Insurance Costs in Tallahassee Florida.
The average car insurance in Tallahassee, according to moneygeek, is approximately $1100. This cost is based on full coverage for a 40-year-old man. You can read more about their methodology at the link above. The lowest coverage you can get, the costs average around $500 a year. Tallahassee’s car insurance is lower than the state and national average.
For a sample policy with $250,000 coverage for the dwelling and $100,000 in personal property, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Tallahassee is $1,273 per year. This is $1,086 less than the Florida state average of $2,359. Tallahassee city’s average is also lower than the national average of $2,103 by $830. To be honest, this number feels low. Carefully check what you are insuring and what you are not covered for in case of an incident.
3. Transportation.
Gas prices are averaging slightly above $3.50 a gallon. Here are some of the prices we saw over the weekend while we were out and about.
We do have a bus system, but it is not as extensive as many of the northern and midwestern cities we have visited. The city bus system is called the Star Metro, and it is managed by the city of Tallahassee. An unlimited one-day pass is $1.50, and a monthly unlimited pass is $38.
There are plenty of ubers and ride-sharing options in Tallahassee, especially near the universities. Most of our uber trips have been under $15.
4. Utilities.
Most utilities will be through the city of Tallahassee. You can sign up for utilities online through Talgov.org. The effective billing rate of electric is approximately 12 cents a kilowatt. The cost depends on when the energy is consumed. The water costs increase per gallon as more water is used per month. It starts at 23 cents per cubic gallon.
Depending upon your home, you may also have a charge for gas, stormwater, sewer, and/or waste management. According to rentcafe, the average Tallahassee utility bill for a renter was $126 a month.
5. Groceries.
Publix is employee owned and based in Florida. If you are new to Florida, try a Publix Sub. Their deli sandwiches are made in front of you and are the freshest we have had! In general, food is a little higher here than the rest of the state.
The cost of groceries is slightly higher here in Tallahassee than in the rest of the state. We find better deals at farmers markets during the summer months. Check out the photos here to see why we love the Publix bakery and deli. Below, you can see the prices for Oreos, bread, milk and eggs from some of our favorite local grocery stores.
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Abbe Flynn, Broker Associate,
Ketcham Realty Group
850-203-0209
