{"id":313367,"date":"2026-06-19T18:34:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T18:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/313367\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T18:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T18:34:18","slug":"i-fled-floridas-prices-and-politics-to-find-peace-of-mind-and-a-cheaper-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/313367\/","title":{"rendered":"I Fled Florida’s Prices and Politics to Find Peace of Mind and a Cheaper Lifestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thinking about moving to another state<\/a>, but not sure how to start? Welcome to Crossing the Line<\/a>, where real people spill about how they searched for properties in another state<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Today, Josh Pramis, a 43-year-old senior editor, explains how rising rental costs in his Florida<\/a> town pushed him to consider leaving the Sunshine State once and for all\u2014a decision that was cemented when he began thinking about his future and what kind of area he might one day want to buy a home in<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Pramis quickly realized that he would struggle to find an affordable, yet safe, area of St. Petersburg<\/a>, particularly as a gay man. After the 2024 Presidential Election<\/a>, he determined that Florida was no longer a place he wanted to be\u2014and initially began toying with a move abroad, but found the visa process to be too complex.<\/p>\n

He then turned his attention to Seattle, WA<\/a>, before finally settling on Philadelphia, PA<\/a>, a place where he had previously lived and loved.<\/p>\n

Together with a friend who agreed to be his roommate, he started his apartment search online, focusing on the Grays Ferry<\/a> area. They had success right away, finding a two-level apartment that gives each roommate plenty of space to work. <\/p>\n

Now that he\u2019s settled in, he\u2019s loving the weather and the walkability. Best of all, Pramis is saving money, putting him closer to his dream of home ownership\u2013which seems much more possible in his new city.<\/p>\n

Who is the renter?<\/p>\n

Age: 43<\/p>\n

Household setup: Single with a cat<\/p>\n

Occupation: Senior editor<\/p>\n

What did he leave?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Location: St. Petersburg<\/p>\n

Property Type: Rental<\/p>\n

Rooms: One bedroom, one bathroom<\/p>\n

Square Feet: 550 square feet<\/p>\n

Cost: $1,400<\/p>\n

What did he rent?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Location: Philadelphia<\/p>\n

Property Type: Apartment<\/p>\n

Rooms: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms<\/p>\n

Square Feet: 1,700 square feet<\/p>\n

Cost: $1,800<\/p>\n

Josh Pramis shares about the rising rental costs in St. Petersburg and what ultimately pushed him to start exploring leaving Florida in search of another state to call home, eventually settling in Philadelphia. Josh PramisHe flirted briefly with the idea of moving internationally, then to Seattle, before finally choosing Philadelphia\u2014a place he had lived before.Josh PramisInside the moveWhat led you to want to move to a new state?<\/p>\n

It started with the recent election. Before that, I was living in St. Petersburg and planning on buying a home in Florida. Then the election happened, and I started looking into the feasibility of moving abroad. I even talked with my employer about it, and researched the Visa process. It proved too complicated.<\/p>\n

Was anything else contributing to the idea of moving?<\/p>\n

My apartment complex in St. Pete did a bait-and-switch. After the first year, they raised the rent $200 a month. I lived in New York<\/a> City for 10 years, where the annual rent increase couldn\u2019t be more than $50 a month. <\/p>\n

When I talked to the leasing office of my St. Pete apartment, they said that the other properties in the area were raising rents by 30% a year, so their 20% was generous. The national average is 5%. I was thinking, “OK, so you\u2019re telling me I should be happy because you\u2019re ripping me off less than the neighboring buildings?” <\/p>\n

That put a sour taste in my mouth, but I didn\u2019t move for five more years.<\/p>\n

Was there anything else about that apartment that was challenging?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a baker. In my St. Pete rental, my kitchen was the size of my desk. When I baked, I had to set up folding tables in my living room to have space for cookies and things to cool. I also had to store all my trays and pans in my bedroom. It was terrible.<\/p>\n

So moving abroad was a no-go. Were you looking to move anywhere in the U.S.?<\/p>\n

At first, I was thinking about Seattle because I love it there. When I was younger, it had been my dream\u2013ever since I watched “Real World Seattle.” At the time, I was obsessed with the cloudy, rainy weather. <\/p>\n

Then, right before the pandemic, I ran my first marathon there and stayed to explore the city. Politically, it was up my alley. But the more I thought about it, the more I wasn\u2019t sure I wanted to move to the opposite side of the country where I knew no one.<\/p>\n

Where else were you looking?<\/p>\n

I lived in Philly during college. Then, a few years ago, I traveled for the city\u2019s Broad Street Run. I stayed with friends, and that replanted that seed that I could live in this city.<\/p>\n

How did you settle on Philly?\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have moved places where I didn\u2019t know people and I didn\u2019t want to do that again. I\u2019m older and work from home, and wouldn’t have an office to meet people. I realized, too, that I only knew Seattle as a visitor\u2013I didn\u2019t know the neighborhoods. With Philly, I did. <\/p>\n

I also wouldn\u2019t be starting fresh. I have a handful of friends here, which helps. Philly removed a lot of the unknowns, and became the shining, obvious answer.<\/p>\n

How did you find this apartment?<\/p>\n

My roommate did. Together, we narrowed it down to the Grays Ferry area. He was looking online and this one was the first one he saw in person. He didn\u2019t have a realtor\u2013he simply reached out to the name on the listing.<\/p>\n

What did you like about this one?<\/p>\n

This layout is really unique. It\u2019s one apartment, but two floors\u2013the ground floor and basement level. My roommate and I both work from home, so it\u2019s nice to have two levels. It was cheaper and much bigger than other places we had seen online. <\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t get to see it in person, but it seemed like a good deal, so I just said, \u201cLet\u2019s go for it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

How is it to go from living alone to having a roommate?<\/p>\n

It alleviates loneliness. I also wanted to save money to buy a house. Right now, the plan is to buy a three-bedroom house in a year or two, and my friend could rent a room to help cover the mortgage.<\/p>\n

You mention wanting to buy a home. Did housing costs shape your decision?<\/p>\n

Yes. In St. Pete, $500,000 buys a fixer-upper probably more on the outskirts of town. After the recent election, I really had to pay closer attention to where I would settle down. I had to consider small-town Florida vibes. Would I be safe in the area where I could afford to buy? <\/p>\n

I also didn\u2019t want to invest money into a state that, politically, is actively working against me and my ability to be a person. Would I still have the right to marry in Florida?<\/p>\n

Together with a friend who agreed to be his roommate, he started his apartment search online, focusing on the Grays Ferry area.Josh PramisThey had success right away, finding a two-level apartment that gives each roommate plenty of space to work.Josh PramisDid housing prices in Philly factor into the decision?<\/p>\n

Yes. Philly seemed to have homes that time has forgotten. In other words, the post-pandemic prices haven\u2019t inflated here as much as other places. For $300,000, you can buy a renovated row house.<\/p>\n

Were there any hiccups to moving?<\/p>\n

We signed the Philly lease on May 1. My lease in Florida isn’t done until June 23. Originally, I didn\u2019t want to sign a lease in Pennsylania until mid May or June 1, but this was just too good.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How did you get your things from Florida to Pennsylvania?<\/p>\n

Originally, a friend offered to drive a U-haul truck for me, and I would drive my car. But then they made plans to move abroad. I pivoted and rented one small PODS container. It was an easy process that I highly recommend. <\/p>\n

The only stressful part was that the loading process requires two parking spaces, and at my St. Pete apartment, I only had one assigned space, so I had to schedule the pick-up at a time when few residents were home. I was very nervous that wouldn\u2019t work out, but it did.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How is life in Philly different?<\/p>\n

Philly is more accessible for walkers. In St. Pete, it was a production if I wanted to go downtown. I would have to drive there, find parking then walk to the destination. Here, I can wander to a farmers\u2019 market, then to a park. <\/p>\n

Having so much walkability is making me more of a social person. I don’t think there has been a day where I have spent the entire day at home.<\/p>\n

Is everyday life cheaper in Philly?<\/p>\n

I am saving $400 a month on rent. Gas is more expensive here, [but] I really don\u2019t really use it. I\u2019m saving on gas because I can walk to everything.<\/p>\n

Is there anything you miss about St Pete?<\/p>\n

I loved the queer community there. I always felt comfortable and safe. Also, my family lives in the St. Pete area and I will miss having them so close by.<\/p>\n

What don\u2019t you miss about St. Pete?<\/p>\n

I hated the summers. Florida has 80 percent humidity and feels like you’re walking in someone\u2019s mouth. Here, 85 degrees feels like Florida\u2019s 75 degrees. I also hated the lack of parking. If I came home too late, my parking spot was far away.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favorite thing about living in Philly?<\/p>\n

The sense of neighborliness. It\u2019s not just that people are friendly. It\u2019s that it\u2019s not unusual to run into people you know on the street, all the time. It\u2019s a lot of \u201csmall town\u201d moments. That’s what made me fall in love with it back in the day. <\/p>\n

The other thing is that this city has such a positive impact on my mental health. You think the suburbs are the place to go to recharge. But it depends on the person. Being in a city and having walkable access to everything is a whole lot better for me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thinking about moving to another state, but not sure how to start? Welcome to Crossing the Line, where…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":313368,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[202,204,203,199,201,200],"class_list":["post-313367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-st-petersburg","tag-st-pete","tag-st-pete-headlines","tag-st-pete-news","tag-st-petersburg","tag-st-petersburg-headlines","tag-st-petersburg-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313367"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313367\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}