I grew up in New York and moved to St. Pete, so this isn't a hypothetical for me. I've also helped a lot of people make the same move, from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester, and pretty much every corner of the tri-state area. Here's what I actually tell them.
The financial case first:
Florida has no state income tax. New York state income tax runs up to 10.9%, and if you're in New York City, add another 3.9% on top of that. For someone earning $150,000, moving to Florida is the equivalent of a $20,000+ raise before you factor in housing.
On the housing side: what a one-bedroom co-op costs in a decent Brooklyn neighborhood will buy you a three-bedroom bungalow in Historic Kenwood or a waterfront property in Shore Acres. That math lands differently depending on what you're coming from, but it lands. Most New Yorkers who run the numbers are genuinely surprised by what their budget unlocks here.
The neighborhood question — where do New Yorkers tend to land?
Old Northeast is the neighborhood I hear about most. Brick streets, architectural character, walkability to the Pier and Beach Drive, a real neighborhood identity. It reminds people of the Brooklyn brownstone blocks or the better parts of the Upper West Side — minus the density and the winter.
Historic Kenwood is another one. Colorful restored bungalows, a strong community culture, walkable to coffee shops and galleries on Central Avenue. It has the energy of a neighborhood that people chose intentionally rather than just ended up in.
Creston Lake and Crescent Heights draw the buyers who want centrality and easy access without paying waterfront premiums. If you're coming from a neighborhood where you could walk to the farmers market on Saturday, Crescent Lake feels the most familiar.
What surprises people about St. Pete:
The arts scene. St. Pete has the Dalí Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Chihuly Collection, the Warehouse Arts District, and a First Friday gallery culture that draws real crowds. People coming from New York expect to give that up. They don't.
The food. The restaurant scene here is genuinely strong. Local spots, James Beard-recognized chefs, a craft brewery culture. You will not feel like you're making a sacrifice on this front.
The pace. This one is real. Things move more slowly in St. Pete — not in a frustrating way, but in a way that takes adjustment. Traffic is minimal compared to the city. Neighbors talk to you. Services take a little longer. After a few months, most New Yorkers stop noticing.
What New Yorkers sometimes underestimate:
The car. Outside of the urban core, St. Pete requires one. If you're used to not owning a car, that's a real change — both the cost and the adjustment.
The heat and humidity from June through September. Florida summers are intense. The temperature rarely breaks 95, but the humidity makes it feel like it does. Most people acclimate, but the first summer catches almost everyone off guard.
Flood zones. This is a concept that doesn't really translate from New York, and it matters here. Some of the most appealing neighborhoods, particularly the waterfront and canal-front ones, carry flood insurance costs that can add $3,000–$8,000/year to your carrying costs. I walk every buyer through this before we start touring.
The honest take:
The people who make this move and love it are the ones who come in clear-eyed. They know what they're gaining (finances, weather, pace, space) and what they're adjusting to (the car, the summers, a different energy). The people who struggle are usually the ones who expected St. Pete to be New York with palm trees. It isn't. It's its own city, and that's actually the point.
I know this move well, personally and professionally. If you want to talk through what it would look like for you specifically — what your budget gets you, which neighborhoods fit your lifestyle, what to know before you start — reach out. Happy to get into the details.
Written by
Alexis Kaplowitz
Realtor · Smith & Associates · St. Petersburg, FL