Living in St Pete
Is Living in St Pete everything I imaged it would be?
I moved to St Pete in 2018 seeking sunshine, tropical beaches and a fresh start. I “knew” one girl I met on Instagram but other than that I had no connections here. I stalked every hashtag and local account I could find on social media to ultimately make the decision to pack my car and hit the road. To say my expectations on what it was like living in St Pete was based on a highlight reel, is an understatement.
Life in St Pete is better. And it keeps getting better.
Living in St Pete starts with the Weather. St Pete holds the Guiness book of World Records for most consecutive sunny in a row logging 768 days straight! In St Pete we don’t really have standard seasons like you would further north. Which one may see as a negative. We just make a point to visit Tennessee or Washington State during winter and fall to get our fix on the snow and changing leaves.
Spring in St Pete: March & April are some of the most beautiful 75 degree months where the nights are cooler and the days are perfect. The only negative about spring is the pollen allergies take me out!
Summer in St Pete: Summer in St Pete is May – October where it gets hot and humid with an average temperature of 89 degrees. August is the hottest month, so if you’re thinking about visiting then, just don’t. It can be almost unbearable. The other downside of this time of year is we basically skip fall. But the pros of Florida summers definitely outweigh the cons.. Just make sure your A/C is working and you have a pool (or access to one).
Winter in St Pete: Winter life in St Pete is one of my favorites. Winter here is from December – February with an average of 73 degrees. January is the coldest month with an average temp of 69. Winter is when the snowbirds come back to escape the northern blizzards. It may be too cold for the beach but we love enjoying our backyard kitchen and entertainment space, watching outdoor movies and hosting friends!
Hurricane Season: Hurricane season in St Pete is June – November which also corresponds with the wetter season. We will see sunny days turn over to afternoon rainstorms. Although we haven’t seen a direct hit hurricane since 1921, we have definitely been impacted by storms like Idalia with severe flooding and high winds. During hurricane season nothing changes other than remaining prepared.
Cost of Living in St Pete
I’m not going to sugar coat this category. BUT I will say right off the bat, if you’re planning on moving here and ballin on a budget, there are tons of Facebook groups where people post listings for room rentals or seeking roommates offering really affordable options.
With that being said..
Renting in St Pete
Okay so I looked through TONS of statistic sites online sharing data on average and median costs of rent and home values and it would feel very dishonest of me to share those stats. They may very well be accurate, in which case I recommend you doing some research.
In my experience, it’s hard to find a decent place to rent in a good area for under $1600. My last 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment in the Arte Grand Central District St Pete was $2200 per month. I have friends paying anywhere from $2600-3200 for a one bedroom unit near downtown St Pete.
Even apartments in the less desirable outskirts area of St Pete, start at $1695 for a one bedroom and that’s before all the added technology fees and valet trash you know they’ll add!
With that being said, however, there are deals that pop up, especially lately with the crackdown on short term rentals in the area. A lot of investors are turning from short term to long term tenants.
Rent in Saint Petersburg is, on average, 42.3% lower than in New York. (numbio.com)
Buying a House in St Pete
For a lot of people, buying a house is the ultimate goal. For many it makes more sense to rent, and that’s totally okay! If purchasing a home in St Pete is your goal, I’d love to be considered for the job of your Realtor!
The median home value in the City of St Pete the last 6 months is $416,000 There are sub cities such as Largo, Seminole, Gulfport nearby that often have a more desirable price range. Check out my blog on Best Neighborhoods in St Pete to get a feel for the area.
While shopping around make sure to keep your eye on flood zones and property taxes. More desirable areas will have higher tax rates and flood insurance can add a couple hundred dollars per month to your mortgage payment.
Honestly, owning a home in St Pete has felt like such an accomplishment. My fiance and I had dreamt of owning a piece of St Pete History. When we first started dating in 2018 we would walk the brick streets of Old Northeast and dream about owning a craftsman bungalow. St Pete is home to us and it’s so comforting knowing that wherever life takes us, we’ll always have a place of our own here.
Groceries in St Pete
One of the things that hit me the hardest moving to St Pete from Texas was the cost of groceries. I remember walking around Publix for 30 minutes, returning my cart and going home because everything seemed so expensive to me. (I did come from HEB though lol!) According to Payscale.com, St. Petersburg has grocery prices that are 8% higher than the national average.
However, St Pete is home to a lot of farm fresh, local organic options that may be more affordable. Every Saturday is the Saturday morning market where you can find fresh produce, local meat and other items like kombucha and honey!
Events in St Pete
There’s literally always something to do here.. It seems like every weekend there’s some sort of concert, market, festival or big event going on. Coming from a town where there was almost nothing to do, this is one of the things I looked forward to about St Pete.
Here are a few annual events you can expect to attend when you start your life in St Pete.
St. Pete Wine & Food Festival: This event in November celebrates the culinary scene of St. Pete with wine tastings, food pairings, chef demonstrations, and live entertainment.
- St. Pete Pride: Celebrated in June, St. Pete Pride is one of the largest LGBTQ+ pride events in the Southeast, featuring a parade, live performances, parties, and community events.
- Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: Held in March, this IndyCar Series race takes over the streets of downtown St. Pete, attracting racing enthusiasts from around the world.
Tampa Bay Blues Festival: Although technically in neighboring Tampa, this event in April draws blues fans from across the region to enjoy performances by renowned artists in Vinoy Park.
SunLit Festival: Celebrating literature and the arts, the SunLit Festival in April features author readings, writing workshops, literary events, and performances throughout St. Pete.
Gasparilla Pirate Fest: While the main festivities happen in Tampa, Gasparilla Pirate Fest often spills over into St. Pete, with pirate-themed events, parades, and parties in January.
Mainsail Art Festival: Held in April, this juried art show in Vinoy Park features over 200 artists showcasing their work in various mediums, attracting art lovers from across the region.
- St. Pete Beach Corey Area Craft Festival: This event in November showcases the work of local and national crafters, offering unique handmade goods, art, jewelry, and more.
- Raggae Rise Up: An outdoor concert festival at Vinoy Park every March. Enjoy a day (or multiple days) of music, dancing, food vendors, and a beautiful view at the waterfront park.
- The St. Pete Boat Show is an annual event that takes place in St. Petersburg, Florida, typically held in November. It’s one of the largest boat shows on the Gulf Coast and showcases a wide range of boats, yachts, and marine products.
This is just a few of the MANY events, markets and festivals held each year. You can also check out Janus Live calendar for scheduled concerts at St Pete’s downtown venue and St Pete Pier events for festive annual markets and cool things like a pop up roller rink!
Restaurants
It seems like every weekend we drive downtown there’s a new restaurant we’re excited to try. For such a small city we have a large array of options from Italian, Thai, Japanese, Mexican and more. Most restaurants offer out door and indoor seating many with waterfront patios and live music.
A few of our favorite restaurants in St Pete
Frescos on the Water – Marina waterfront Bistro with THE BEST seafood. Expect to pay upwards of $90 for a couple on lunch.
Bella Brava – Italian restaurant located right downtown with some of the best Italian food. We normally choose to sit outside and expect to pay $70-100 for a couple for dinner.
Pauls Landing – More of a “hidden gem” located at the Vinoy hotel over looking the Marina. Pauls Landing is quiet and feels a bit more upscale and exclusive.
Engine9 – Best burger in St Pete, hands down.
Bonu – Another amazing Italian restaurant with more of a coastal Italian vibe located toward Grand Central District.
There’s literally so many to choose from just DM me on instagram and tell me what you’re looking for and I guarantee St Pete has a place I can recommend!
Night Life
I came here post college so skipped the night life season of my life but I’ve heard, (and have witness only a time or two) the night life in St Pete is… well, fun?
No Vacancy, Park ’n Rec, and Par Bar are fun bars were you can play games like mini put put, trash can beer pong, life sized connect4 etc. If I go out with friends once a year this is where we go. Or somewhere like Lure with pool tables.
But there are also literal CLUBs you can go get your dance on like The Estate and Goodnight John Boy.
Cool unique places to check out:
- Concrete Jungle
- Dirty Laundry
- Lost and Found
Final Verdict...
I’m originally from Washington State. I grew up in the same house until I left for college at 18. I went to the University of Idaho where I lived in Moscow Idaho for 5 years. After graduation I moved to Waco Texas for an internship while working at Magnolia. I share all of this to express a bit of diversity, St Pete isn’t all I know.. I can confidently say that my quality of life, overall motivation, and happiness has significantly improved living in St Pete.
From the sunshine and sunsets, to the water and activities here, the city has absolutely exceeded my expectations and I never see myself leaving.
Considering moving to St Pete?
If you’re considering moving to St Pete I’d love to be your point of contact. I know this city like the back of my hand. Whether you’re looking to buy, rent or live in your van I’m here for it!
I’ve been a realtor for nearly 6 years in the Tampa Bay area helping people all over the US relocate to the magical city of St Petersburg. I’ve served first time home buyers, seasoned investors, out of staters and those original to St Pete.
Over the course of the last 6 years, the real estate market has been one of the most exhilarating rollercoasters I’ve been on. One of the qualities that makes me a great realtor is my love for change and diversity providing the skill to adapt and improvise successfully!
I’d love to represent you in your next purchase and not just facilitate a transaction, but aid in a smooth and stress free transition to call St Pete home!
Shoot me a text or an email!
- kodietalley@lombardoteam.com
- 360-306-1410
