I get a lot of questions about what it’s like to live in St Augustine and the whole gamut of inquiries around moving here. I’m happy to answer everything as long as YOU know that what I share are my opinions and others may vary. Here are my thoughts on what you need to know about relocating here. These thoughts are pretty unfiltered and are solely based on my experience as a St Augustinian.
If you’re looking to come for a while or fully relocate, we’ve got information all about that. Moving to St Augustine is a popular thing to do because it’s beautiful here, it’s historic, we actually have seasons and you’ve got a wonderful mix of city life and nature. Want to know more about what it’s like to live in St Augustine? We’ve got you covered!
If you have any additional questions about relocating to St Augustine or what it’s like living in this part of Florida, please leave a comment or send us a note. I’m always happy to share more and connect you with good people to help you make the right decision about where is the right place for you.
My Thoughts on Relocating to St Augustine
Come for a visit and really consider the neighborhoods and people before you decide to move to St Augustine. This is a fun, beautiful town, but it’s a lot. In summer it’s full of vacationers and in winter it’s full of snowbirds. We have hurricane season and then we have Nights of Lights season. It’s a mixed bag, but is a wonderful place to live and, I think, a great place to raise kids.
The vibe of the town is a bit ridiculous, with lots of people being vocal about there being too many visitors or too many people moving to St Augustine, but don’t worry, that’s only a few people who are really loud about it. St Johns County is a wonderful place to live and despite a very red voting record, it’s very welcoming place that is changing for the more progressive and inclusive future. And you know what? One of the ways this is happening is by people from other places coming here and helping to shape the views of our community. I love it!
About Me – Why My Opinions are What they Are
I think the thing that jars me more often than not is the overt racism and bigotry on display in St Augustine. Yes, we have a very diverse population and yes, we even have a Pride parade downtown during Pride Month, but bigots love to bigot and they’re loud about it. St Augustine is very much a good-ol-boys club and people openly talk about their Trumpism and talk out of their asses. Instead of caring about supporting the diversity of the community and what make St Augustine work so well for tourism, people are completely oblivious to WHO keeps our world going round: our diverse Floridians and newcomers.
Yes, I’m very liberal because I actually am out in the world and I see how diversity and inclusion makes a place better for all, from the residents to the visitors. And yes, I believe that felons and s*xual predators should NOT be in positions of power, and that is not a popular point of view here. If others agree with me, they’re usually very quiet about it, which is disappointing. Unfortunately people in St Augustine and St Johns County as a whole lean very much towards extreme conservativism and put their inconsideration of others proudly out there for the world to see. It makes me sad. BUT IT’S NOT EVERYONE.
The people working in tourism and hospitality tend to be very welcoming and shine a light of what St Augustine could be. The people working in development and real estate… um, well, you should have a conversation with them about values and their fellow man before you start any sort of dealing with them. There are some good people and then there are some unapologetic racists and cultists. And then there are those who want to turn the city into a land of vacation rentals and price residents out…
There you have it.
Need to Know about Moving to St Augustine
Here we go. As you consider moving to St Augustine or St Johns County, these are the things you need to know so you can make an informed decision. A lot of what I’m sharing here is factual and some things are my opinions and observations. Consider what is important to you and what you’re okay dealing with as you think about moving to St Augustine. And please let me know if you have more questions!
What is the Best thing about living in St Augustine?
If you’re thinking about moving to St Augustine, then you’re probably aware of what makes it so special. The BEST part of living in St Augustine though is not the history or the beach, but it’s the consistency of life. Here you know that you’ll have a good run of sunny days, whether they’re hot and humid or brisk and clear. You know that you’ll be able to have good food, both in the touristy areas and is the neighborhoods. You know that traffic can’t get worse than its current state because there isn’t any way to add more people to the downtown area or the island.
CAVEAT: there is a lot of developing happening on the west side of town between I-95 and Highway 1, so that will have an impact on traffic in those areas and when you want to access the freeway to go to Orlando or Jacksonville.
Daily life is very consistent in terms of the flow of people, the weather and mood. It’s a vacation or snowbird town for many, so the people you meet are either in relaxation mode or they’re in the relaxing part of life. The best thing about living in St Augustine is the consistency of the vibe, no matter what you enjoy.
How crowded is it with tourists?
We do have moments with lots of tourist. Moving to St Augustine means that you know you’re coming to a place where tourism is the main industry. It means that you accept that during Spring Break and over the Christmas holidays you’ll be among visitors wherever you go. This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but is just a part of living here.
When you live here it’s different from when you visit. You live in a neighborhood, not on St George Street downtown. You live a few blocks off the beach, NOT in the Salt Life parking lot on a Friday night. Even when the tourists are here in full force, neighborhood life stays chill, and if you want to go downtown and take part in the attractions of historic streets or Christmas lights, you can… and then you can go home and relax.
Moving to St Augustine doesn’t mean immersing yourself in being a forever-tourist, but you can enjoy all of those activities and sights whenever you want.
What is the cost of living in St. Augustine?
St Augustine and North Florida in general used to be much cheaper, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living here has gone up due to so many people relocating to St Augustine. It’s still not bad if you’re thinking about moving here from someplace like Washington DC, Miami or Seattle, where the cost of living is much higher.
The cost of living in St. Augustine is about 10.9% higher than the national average and 7.6% higher than Florida’s average. Housing is the largest expense, with median home values around $441,000. Renting a two-bedroom unit averages $1,350 monthly, lower than state and national averages for comparable spaces. Monthly living costs for a family are approximately $7,050, while a single person might spend around $3,833
What are the housing options like?
When you consider relocating to St Augustine, you’ll have to decide what sort of housing you want to live in. On Anastasia Island, in the Vilano area, north St Augustine and most of the neighborhoods along US-1 and highways 16 and 207 you’ll find nicely organized neighborhoods with a mix of architecture ranging from the 1950s to new builds. There are quite a few large housing developments these days north of the city on Highway 1 and out on 207 on the way to I-95. Some people like living in these newer neighborhoods with a community plan and HOA; other’s not so much.
At the beach within 5 blocks of the sand, you’ll find the houses to be very eclectic, meaning little beach bungalows to 3-floor beach houses. There are quite a few condominium communities at the beach, ranging from near the St Johns County Pier all the way down towards Fort Matanzas. Most of the condo communities have pools and boardwalks over to the beach.
Directly around the historic downtown, from the Vilano boat ramp through Uptown, to the Flagler Model Land and into Lincolnville and West King neighborhoods, you’ll find a ton of historic homes. Some have been very well maintained or updated, and some are looking for love. Uptown has lots of Queen Anne style homes (small and large) as well as gingerbread houses and workers row houses from the early 1900s. Lincolnville has Victorians as well as late 19th century homes for families… and then some random new homes and even some town houses.
Before you decide that moving to St Augustine is your plan, come visit and check out each of the neighborhood areas and figure out what sort of lifestyle you want to be immersed in here.
How is the job market in St. Augustine?
I’m pretty sure at least 50% of us work in tourism or at least a business that is impacted by tourism. While there are other white collar businesses with offices all around St Augustine, travel is the evident economic booster here.
St. Augustine has a robust tourism-driven economy due to its historic sites and coastal location. People are visiting us year round for either the Castillo de San Marcos / downtown or to come to the beach. The unemployment rate is below the national average, with job opportunities in hospitality, healthcare, education, and retail. Commuting is common, as about 54% of workers travel to jobs outside the city heading towards Jacksonville or smaller remote industries (construction, forestry, fishing).
What are the schools like in St. Augustine?
St. Augustine is served by St. Johns County School, one of the top-rated school districts in Florida. It offers high-performing public schools and private institutions, with a focus on academics, arts, and extracurricular activities. There are some great people involved with our school. HAVING SAID THAT…
The 2024 election saw HORRIFYING elections to the school board including people with direct, proud ties to Mom’s For Liberty who are NOT directly connected to the kids of St Augustine proper. While our schools are top rated for the state at the moment, I don’t know how that will last and how many more books will be banned. Florida education is an opportunity to teach our kids about inclusion, activism and caring, but the state and county are not moving in that direction.
What is the weather like in St. Augustine?
I love every season here, especially spring. St. Augustine has a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. It’s prone to hurricanes and tropical storms during the season (June-November). While we don’t get a ton of direct hit hurricanes, they do happen. And even when we don’t get a direct hit or even a hurricane, the edge of a big storm or even a tropical storm can cause a lot of damage. We get plenty of notice to prepare for big storms though, so between hurricane shutters and sandbags there are ways to mitigate damage.
If you’re not already from the South and you’re considering moving to St Augustine, be sure you come visit during peak summer months. You need to feel what 95°F with 90% humidity is. Some people cannot handle it, even with AC inside. I love it and I love how my skin feels in the middle of summer, but it really is hot for most people.
Winter temperatures are comfortable, rarely dipping below 40°F, but I’ll tell you, when it gets cold it feels extra cold. We’re so used to warm weather that when the temps drop it aches. Once or twice per winter the temperature may drop into the 20s, but it’s rare. When that happens the weather service issues a Hard Freeze Warning and we all go outside to wrap our plants and put up holiday lights on them to keep them warm. Also, when it is going to go below 32°F pool owners keep their pool pumps going overnight.
Is St. Augustine a good place to retire?
I’m not retired, but I’ll give my opinion on this one. Based on the number of retired people in my neighborhood and that I meet at the grocery store, I can say that yes, this is a great spot to spend the golden years. I think the same things that making moving to St Augustine appealing for young people are the same things that are attractive for retirees.
Snowbirds and retirees love St Augustine because the weather is consistently mellow and there is a ton to do, whether you want history, culture or nature. Also, when it comes to living someplace where you’re sure to get visitors from friends and family, that’s our town for sure. Relocating to St Augustine ensures that your kids and grandkids will always want to come visit for the beach or the fun sights. And we have pickleball courts, so that’s important for a lot of retirees.
Is St. Augustine a safe place to live?
I’ll start by saying that homelessness is NOT the determining factor as to if our town is a safe place to live. There are quite a few unhoused people in the downtown areas, as to be expected in a place like St Augustine with a nice climate and good social services. Our unhoused population varies and did increase with the COVID-19 pandemic. St Francis House and other organizations are very active to support our resident and transient unhoused neighbors. Donate to St Francis House here!
The city has a lower crime rate than other Florida cities of similar size, though crime levels vary by neighborhood. The historic downtown and suburban areas are considered safe and family-friendly. We live in St Augustine Beach and feel very safe from the Pier Park to the many beach entrances.
What are the fun things to do in St Augustine?
St. Augustine offers a mix of historic attractions, beach activities, and outdoor adventures. We enjoy visiting the Castillo de San Marcos, Anastasia State Park, and checking out our local festivals. Its small-town charm combined with vibrant tourism provides plenty of things for us to do year-round. We love to visit the farmers markets in St Augustine, there’s the Greek Festival and Seafood Festive. There are several community running events throughout the year. And then of course the beach.
When it comes to other recreation, we love kayaking all around St Augustine. In town we have some wonderful spots, including the Vilano boat ramp and Salt Run, and then there are more areas all around Anastasia Island. We also are within an hour of kayaking at the many natural springs of Volusia and Marion Counties, and then there are lots of Intracoastal kayaking spots. So much to do!
I think moving to St Augustine can be the right thing for many people, of all sorts. And yes, I do want people to move here. I think we need some folks from other regions and walks of life to come to town and be a force for good. I know that not everyone feels that way, but as a parent who’s active in the community and loves our city, I think we could use more people with diverse backgrounds, educations, diverse skin color, more LGBTQ folks, people with diverse life experiences…
If you would like to share your thoughts or questions about relocating to St Augustine, please do so. Leave a comment below and be respectful in your statements. I know there’s a lot to divided thoughts on welcoming new people to our town, so be a part of the conversation and open to hearing from others.
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