Even though San Francisco is one of the most popular cities in the country it seems like its golden age has passed. Only from 2020 to 2021 the city lost more than 50,000 residents or 6,3% of its entire population, most in the whole country. But where are those people going? Well, one of the most popular destinations for people leaving San Francisco is Florida. Miami and Tampa are getting the biggest portion of newcomers. But there are also many people moving from San Francisco to Jacksonville. If you are planning to take this route as well, in the following article, Verified Movers will show you what to expect and how to organize the whole process.
What to expect after moving from San Francisco to Jacksonville?
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast in the northernmost part of the state of Florida. With a population of 902,500, it is the most populous city in the Sunshine State. However, when we look at the sheer area it occupies (840 square miles) it is the largest city in America. So even though you are used to living in a fairly large city, you will notice a significant difference once you move from San Francisco to Jacksonville.
Another difference you will notice is in walkability. San Francisco is known as the most walkable city in the country, while Jacksonville officially ranks as the 50th most walkable big city in the country. Still, Jacksonville doesn’t have a good public transportation system in place and very few bike lanes. Meaning that, once you move here, you will need to have your own car if you want to be mobile.
Differences in living costs
The main reason why people are leaving San Francisco is the high living costs. So, naturally, they are moving to places that are more affordable. But is Jacksonville actually more affordable than San Francisco and is it worth paying for top movers in San Francisco to help you move across such a large distance? In the following lines, we will try to compare living costs in San Francisco and Jacksonville.
Food prices in San Francisco and Jacksonville
According to the latest data, living in Jacksonville is 32% cheaper than living in San Francisco. Eating in restaurants is 29% cheaper in Jacksonville while groceries are around 22% cheaper. For example, a basic meal in an inexpensive restaurant in San Francisco that costs around $20.00 will cost you $15 in Jacksonville. A bottle of water in a restaurant in San Francisco that costs around $2.34 will cost you $1.44 in Jacksonville.
If you are more into buying fresh groceries and preparing your own food at home the difference will not be that big. For example, a loaf of bread is 25% cheaper in Jacksonville. Boneless chicken breast 23%, oranges 4%, milk 29.0% cheaper. However, there are items that are cheaper in San Francisco like potatoes and onions. But no more than 4%.
Transportation costs
We already talked about the need to have a car when living in Jacksonville. Luckily for you, the gas prices right now are nearly 50% lower in Jacksonville. In August 2022, the average gas price in San Francisco was $6 while in Jacksonville it was around $3.4. This probably means that hiring movers in San Francisco is more expensive than hiring top movers in Jacksonville. However, that is a thing that you will need to overcome if you want to lower your overall living costs. If you are still not ready to purchase a vehicle, know that a taxi ride will also cost you less after moving from San Francisco to Jacksonville – 25.5% less.
Housing costs are where you will find the biggest difference
When it comes to housing costs, that is where you will feel the biggest difference after relocating from San Francisco to Jacksonville. The median home value in San Francisco in 2022 is $1.3M. In Jacksonville, the median home value in the same period is $324.9K. So if you are a homeowner looking to sell a home in the San Francisco metro area and buy a new home in Jacksonville paying for those expensive cross country moving companies San Francisco doesn’t sound like a bad choice at all.
When it comes to rents, as you can imagine, things are also in Jacksonville’s favor. The median rent in San Francisco in September of 2022 is $3,060. In Jacksonville, the median rent in September of 2022 is $1,530. Utility costs are also much cheaper in Jacksonville – 40.1% cheaper.
How to organize a move from San Francisco to Jacksonville
So, there is doubt at all – if you want to lower your living costs significantly, relocating from San Francisco to Jacksonville is a great choice. But how do you organize this cross country move? Naturally, the first thing you will need is a moving plan. Once you plan the whole move, start decluttering. As we already mentioned, hiring movers in San Francisco is much more expensive than hiring cross country moving companies Jacksonville. And since they will calculate their price based on the weight of your moving inventory it is understandable why getting rid of unnecessary items should be your priority.
Once you get rid of excess stuff, prepare a moving inventory list and use it to get free moving quotes online from several reliable movers. Then simply compare their offers and pick the best one.
Relocating to Jacksonville from San Francisco is a great idea
As you can see, moving from San Francisco to Jacksonville is a great idea looking from a financial standpoint. You will significantly lower your living costs but you will also need to get used to a different lifestyle. Nevertheless, the city of Jacksonville is a great place to live and has a lot to offer. And we are sure that you will enjoy it equally as you enjoyed San Francisco.