Panama Beach was a popular destination for college and high school students before it became Panama Beach. It remained that way until the mid-’80s when laws were passed to discourage the type of behavior that is often associated with college spring-break trips. Fort Lauderdale is now more family-friendly, catering to older people who enjoy the resort lifestyle with lots of fine dining and shopping.
Fort Lauderdale, a small coastal city, has a population of approximately 180,000. However, it is often included in the larger Miami-Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metropolitan region, which has experienced rapid growth and now includes more than 5.5 million people. Fort Lauderdale was always in the shadows of Miami. But, due to Miami’s rising real estate market, Fort Lauderdale now has significant residential and commercial growth. There are 23 miles of beaches in the town, as one would expect from a place along the Atlantic Ocean. But it also boasts a large canal system that runs over 500 miles, earning it the nickname “Venice.”
Cost Of Living
Fort Lauderdale is the seventh-most-expensive city in Florida, and the cost of living is 37 percent higher than the national average, according to SalaryExpert. Zillow reports that the average home listing price is $495,000. Apartments can be rented for $1,470-$2,053, depending on the location.
The Job Market
Fort Lauderdale’s population fluctuates, just like in other parts of Florida. This is due to the large number who live there on an irregular basis. It helps boost the economy during slow periods for tourism.
Fort Lauderdale is home to strong tourist industry and a vibrant job market. It also has many jobs in various fields. These are the salaries for the most popular jobs:
- Accountant: $70,000/year
- Registered nurse: $79,000/year
- Manager of Human Resources: $90,000.
- Web developer: $90,000/year
- Mechanical engineer: $106,000/year
- Paralegal: $64,000/year
- Real estate agent: $57,000/year
- Electrician: $57,000/year
- Photographer: $54,000/year
How To Get Around The City
While it is possible for some to live in Fort Lauderdale with no car, it is not feasible for many. These are the best options for you if you decide to live in Fort Lauderdale without a car.
- Broward County Transit (BCT), a fleet of 300 buses that serves 1,600 stops, covers over 400 miles of Broward County.
- Brightline: Privately owned and operated passenger rail system providing express service between Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
- B-Cycle/AvMed Riders: This bike-sharing program has 16 stations in the city. It was established to reduce traffic congestion.
- Sun Trolley: There are six routes on the Sun Trolley in Fort Lauderdale. It works on a wave and rides system. If you see one and want to ride it you can wave it down, and it will pick it up along the route.
- Tri-Rail is a commuter rail system that connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. It stretches 71 miles and has 19 stations along the coast. Amtrak can also be reached at many stations. The Florida East Coast Railway corridor extends Tri-Rail service north to Jupiter, and south through Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
We have focused on the positives of Fort Lauderdale and it is easy to see why. Like any other city, there are also some drawbacks to living here. To help you decide if Fort Lauderdale is right for you, we reached out to the locals.
This post was written by a real estate expert from the Dotoli group. Josh Dotoli is Paramount Residences #1 Selling Realtor with nine sales in 2021, 3x more sales than any other Realtor selling in the building. The https://paramountresidences.net/ enjoys a prime beach area location. It is an Ft. Lauderdale oceanfront condo located across from the beach.