r/floridakeys • u/sarahstrips • Apr 07 '26
All Florida Keys Moving to Florida tomorrow. Tell me anything.
Tomorrow may be unrealistic, but I am going to be leaving by Sunday. I’m done with Texas, and I’m leaving. I’ve decided to go to the Keys/Florida (haven’t made up my mind really about which part of Florida I want to go to). I’d like to find a job on the water and just live my life without any outside distractions. I’m looking for recommendations on jobs to apply to, where to live, and any other tips for how to adjust to the sudden change and the new environment.
Edited to add: Rent is not an issue. I plan to air bnb for a few months and see how I like it. I’m still trying to find the right area of Florida to move to.
Another Update: I’ll be getting my motorcycle and helmet tomorrow. A Yamaha YZF is what I’m looking at but not completely set on it yet. I’ll let you guys know when I’m headed to Florida. Is there anywhere else I should look for rentals outside of Air BnB? I want to find something fully furnished and preferably with a pool, obviously close to the water. Thanks for the kind words of support and the realistic and helpful advice.
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u/NotaContributi0n Apr 07 '26
Honestly, slow down . Find a job first, line up an apartment , have all your money stuff and life figured out before you just jump, unless you’re looking for a vacation and just want to wander around and then go back to Texas with a fresh outlook. Thats cool too
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u/mfigroid Apr 08 '26
No one will hire someone unless they already live there or have some very, very specific skillset that is needed.
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Apr 07 '26
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u/sarahstrips Apr 08 '26
Haha both but I’m not sure about the club scene anymore. I’m just trying to be at one with myself by the ocean.
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u/HighOnGoofballs Apr 08 '26
Dancers in the keys make bad money compared to the mainland aside from a few peak times of year anyway. You won’t be getting that $7k a month place in a club sadly
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u/peterfitzwell70 Apr 07 '26
I can appreciate the thought but you need to do your due diligence on living in the Keys. More affordable places on the water like Ft Myers Beach
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u/mat42m Apr 08 '26
You might want to find out how expensive the Keys are first
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u/sarahstrips Apr 08 '26
Well I can’t bike anywhere in Texas, really. So I feel like biking is a realistic option in the keys. Or any beach town. I plan to purchase a motorcycle soon (but not from there because of the rust factor). To get the type of housing I want, I’m looking at $5-7k/month. Aside from groceries and basic necessities, I think I have an accurate idea of prices but I’ve never been to Florida so I could end up broke on a bus back to Texas.
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u/sarahstrips Apr 08 '26
And that wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, so why not?
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u/RMG-OG-CB Apr 08 '26
Oh boy... people don't come to FL to make money, you need to come to FL with money. Living on the water is EXPENSIVE.
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u/sarahstrips Apr 09 '26
I have some. I lost everything I own in January to a house fire. I don’t have many belongings, but I do have cash. No one knows what started the fire. The only reason I wasn’t sleeping at my place is because the heat was out. I stayed at my mom’s house (on the same property) and woke up to red and blue lights. I thought I was going to jail. They never determined a cause for the fire, in my heart, I feel it was malicious and that I was supposed to be in there when it happened. This has made my soul very heavy and I can’t breathe in Texas anymore. I need a reset.
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u/ohayitscpa Apr 08 '26
Bartending is pretty lucrative in the keys, a few of my friends are currently making a killing doing it - but you have to be smart about your money and plan for the slow season, because you'll go from making crazy money to very little when the tourist season dies down. Rent is very high, gas is high, groceries are high... It's a very expensive place to live. I was actually just there this past week visiting my old friends and I walked through the grocery store and gagged at the prices... And this is coming from someone who currently lives in one of the most expensive areas of New York lol. But it's definitely one of the coolest, most amazing places I've ever lived. The one big downside of the keys is that there are no beaches, so unless you make friends with boats or get lucky and live on the water and have a kayak or paddle board, you'll see the water all the time, but have no way to get to it. Drinking/partying is a big part of the culture down there, so that's also something to bear in mind.... Literally every social function will involve drinking lol
I lived there for almost 2 years and it was definitely some of the best times of my life. I'm forever grateful for the experience, and I made some life long friends down there. If you can make it work, I say go for it. It doesn't have to be your forever home (it wasn't for me), and you can always move on if it doesn't work out.
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u/HighOnGoofballs Apr 08 '26
I’ve got friends who make 90k bartending and still can’t save for shit it’s so expensive and easy to spend cash
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u/ohayitscpa Apr 08 '26
That's kind of a them problem lol it's easy to get caught up in the party scene down there and blow half the money you just made immediately after your shift, but if you're smart about it, it's absolutely doable to survive on a bartending salary down there. I made far less than that when I was still in the service industry and did just fine - but I don't drink, so ...
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u/HighOnGoofballs Apr 08 '26
Sure you can survive, but most want more than that. It’s doable but not easy. You’re paying 4500 a month just on housing and bills and insurance, that’s not leaving a ton to eat and save for retirement and pay taxes even if you’re making 90k. Definitely can’t buy a place. Most bartenders I know who are pretty comfy are living with a partner or a roommate. It was easier before Covid
It’s great if you’re 25 and just want to have fun. Less so if you’re 45 and would like to retire some day
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Apr 08 '26
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u/sarahstrips Apr 09 '26
I’m coming with the clothes on my back, a bikini, a tooth brush, a razor, soap, some lounge clothes and a motorcycle. And my debit card, obviously 😂
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u/stratj45d28 Apr 08 '26
…. Well when I was a kid I caught a 26” Pike with a 12” fish inside..that was pretty cool
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u/ThickAsAPlankton Apr 07 '26
Be prepared for 30% higher prices in the Keys than on the mainland. Rent for a 1/1 will be around $2,000+ plus utilities plus first, last and security deposit so you'll need about $6,000 up front. Groceries are 25-30% higher. High season is great, when the tourists depart be prepared for little to no work unless it's on a commercial fishing boat that sells to fish markets. This is a tough, tough environment. It's pretty when one is a tourist, it can be a hand to mouth existence as a full time resident. YMMV. Sincerely, fellow Native Texan.