My experience when I moved down last year was that apartments that were $1400-$1500 in Spring of 2021 had now shot up to $1800-$2000. All the landlords and apartment hunters I used told me rents had skyrocketed just in the last few months from end of summer to Fall of 2021. You def have to get creative, as in maybe rent airbnbs months at a time for a while, sometimes they’re cheaper. Or find rommmates / crashpads if possible. There was even someone who managed to live on a 55+ property for a cheaper rent because she shared a place with an older family member. The consensus’ are definitely in dire need of true updating to reflect 2022 prices, almost 2023. You can find properties that are $1500 give or take, but they’re definitely older and you may have to sacrifice things like a washer / dryer or dishwasher etc. Not always but usually. If you’re willing to rent condos from private landlords be prepared to fork over first, last and one months rent upfront… so 3 months rent minimum as deposit. They all ask for that but there’s so many condos available. That’s the issue too besides lack of land for building due to the Everglades and ocean, but majority of the properties down here are private condos or luxury apartments. Investors from around the world snatch up these places and rent them for whatever they want. There’s no rent control in FL either. And after covid a lot of NYers and others with their money moved down here offering a year of rent upfront causing bidding wars and rents to shoot up. All this was info I have been told by landlords and apartment hunters, as well as some news articles about it over the last year. It’s fact.
Orlando honestly isn’t that much more affordable these days either. Maybe $100-$200 difference on rents but I scoured there as well and was extremely disappointed by the options and what you get for your money now. Also way less beautiful, the oceans an hour away minimum and more. Being such a tourist city investors have snatched up properties there as well and after so many hurricanes / earthquakes in Puerto Rico many have flocked to Orlando now, as well as people from South Florida hoping for something cheaper. It’s all pricey now in FL.
That being said, Spirits union sent out a notice of contract negotiations starting Spring 2023. And after personal conversations with dxers at JetBlue they are set to renegotiate pay this Fall too (which they do every 2 years instead of 5 like most airlines). The B6 dxers are strongly under the impression that JetBlue will be upping their pay greatly as well, not only for inflation but to persuade them from voting to join Spirits union if they fully merge. When I saw JetBlue’s pay scale I was very pleasantly surprised that it’s only about a year behind some legacy’s pay. So if they’re renegotiating this Fall as well… : )
Hopefully Spirit will get their head out of the sand and renegotiate a far better pay until this merger is complete, as it could take a many years to be one operating certificate. They must negotiate. They’re very aware they need to do something if they don’t want to keep losing people, and have acknowledged themselves the much higher cost of living after covid and inflation.
