My wife and I moved to The Villages from Orange County, California 4 years ago and are very happy here. Not only does The Villages have numerous Activities, including Live Bands at Town Squares every night and over 2,000 Clubs covering any interest, but the cost of living is much lower. The Government here in Florida does not overwhelm the people, yet Govt services are typically helpful, not constraining. We moved here from the affluent community of Seal Beach, CA, yet we find the quality of life is higher here in Florida. Crime is very low, and the area is beautiful. Come for a "Lifestyle Visit" and decide for yourselves!

As a boy, I lived in the mountains above St. Helena, California for five years. I loved it. I lived in beautiful towns half an hour from Riverside, in Southern California, for four more years in my late twenties and visited several weeks a year for decades. There’s so much to like about California, though it was much better in some ways in the sixties, with half the population. But the modest homes I lived in then now cost way more than my beautiful paid off courtyard villa in The Villages. I can’t afford this nice a home or this level of beauty in California. Plus, taxes are very high in California, gas is far more expensive, there are too many homeless people, the chance of losing my home to wildfire or flood or drought scares me. The big thing for me is that there are so many things to do here that I couldn’t do anywhere I lived in California. I know from experience that I would be much lonelier there.

Varies depending on the home and county. We pay more than that.

Moved from California to Florida
 

I moved from Borrego Springs, CA to Wildwood, Fl and experience a great reduction in living expenses.
No state income tax, and purchasing or renting housing much cheaper.
Auto insurance is generally less but property insurance is higher
The political atmosphere is much more palatable.

The squares are not an amenity...

My TV realtor brought up the bond during our first encounter...

Seriously?
Kalifornia vs The Villages?
There is no contest in my mind, The Villages wins easily!

OP,I see this is your first post. Welcome. You ask a good question. Post #2 is spot on. No State income tax is a very big draw for a lot of people. Overall, the cost of living is cheaper in Florida (and The Villages) than California.

Its safe. Its fun. People get fit here. Its about the same as living anywhere else pricewise.

Living in The Villages
 

To answer your question, while I cannot say how much cheaper not knowing your situation,I can bet it is lower. But it isn't the cost of living it is the pure enjoyment living in the best retirement village by far.

Good morning!!!

Great question. The real answer is what are you looking for?

As you read through all these replies, you will see different perspectives so you must understand what lens they may be looking through and what their past experiences have been before moving here.

From my point of view, the Villages is in a category of its own, hands down!!!

Let me explain.

Grew up in NYC and then moved to Miami. My sister lived in LA. I happen to be in LA right now for my daughter's graduation. So I have alot of big city experience if you will, and in the two major states NY and California.

I have traveled all over the States and the World. I mean alot. We travel almost monthly, if not quarterly. Funny enough, since I moved to the Villages, my travel is starting to decrease. My absolute love for the Villages is "calming" me down from having to travel and get away so much.

Listen, like anything in this world, there are positives and there are negatives.

Let's start with California. By far, the most beautiful landscape in the country. The mix of mountains and ocean and the delicious weather, nothing beats it. As a wine drinker, love Nappa. But would I ever ever live here. Nope. Not for me. Happy enough to get on a plane, come in and come out.

From a "cost" perspective, this will absolutely depend on where you are coming from. Major Metropolitan Cities??? The Villages are far cheaper. Small town in Midwest, maybe not so much but not this huge spread.

The amenities fee is 195 per month. Now this is also a perspective area. If you live in any planned community retirement or not, there is an association fee. It will be anywhere from 125 to 500 for homes, 750 to 4k for condos depending on the area. And what you get for that is peanuts if anything at all. Maybe basic cable. The Villages you have access to thousands of daily and weekly activities that are included.

Someone mentioned the squares are not an amenity. We'll, that's an opinion. I would love to know where you can find 4 different places EVERY night that offer free entertainment 365 days a year accessible by golf cart. Bring your chair and your Yetti and voila. Every night you have a "free" event. I would call that an amenity myself.

Temperature. Hmmm tricky depending where you are coming from. California, you may or maynot "dislike" the weather here. You have delicious weather in California. Hands down. If you come from the north, big winter upgrade. Even during the summer. Coming from South Florida, like I did, heat is higher but humidity is lower so I loke it better. We have better mornings and far better evenings then South Florida.

Cost of insurance is also perspective. I can only speak of South Florida. The Villages has cheaper taxes, cheaper car insurance and cheaper home owners insurance. And by a far margin. I can give you hard numbers of what I experienced if you like.

Crowds/traffic??? Hmmm Another perspective area. Where are you coming from? I came from South Florida. There are no crowds here and no traffic. If people spent 1 week in South Florida they would turn right back and say what was I complaining about? Lol

Now, dive deeper. The Villages versus Florida in general. Sure can you can get cheaper? Yes, you have to go more north and pretty isolated towns in Florida. Forget South Florid. People are being priced out and it is only getting worse.

You can try looking at Margaritaville in Daytona. Same "concept" of the Villages. We found it to be way inferior in every aspect and everyone felt "older" there. Not as friendly either. That is one thing the Villages has over everywhere else. It really is so freaking friendly. If you can not make instant friends here there may be an issue with you. Everyone smiles, waves, talks to you. Especially if you are building new. Community is strong here.

I moved here while in my 50s and still working. Best decision ever. So much, that every friend that comes to visit buys. Everyone is amazed. It takes 4 full nights and then you "get" it.

We call it the bubble. It almost doesn't seem real. Seriously, we say it everyday. I feel we put on extra years on our life living here and still working!!!!!

I have friends that bought this year, 2024, for 275k. I have friends that build homes at a million. There is a home for every budget. And the best thing noone cares which home, which village you live in. We are live and experience the exact same lifestyle.

Btw, there is so much to do outside the bubble. It's endless. Orlando is 45 minutes away, Tampa 1 hour. Concerts, restaurants etc.

Ocala 30 minutes away with full of outdoor activities

So, in summary, you can tell I am a fan. It may not be for everyone. You will always have complainers out there. The full experience of what you get in the bubble coupled with the endless surrounding things you can do outside the bubble and the low cost of living, is truly priceless.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions or need more detail feel free to send me a private message.

You were given some good advice here. Come for a 1 week lifestyle stay and see for yourself. You can extend by doing some bnbs after the fact. Rent a golf cart, travel the bubble and then you will have better input.

Good luck. Hope it works out!

Have a blessed day
Thanks
Serge

We lived in Los Angeles for 45 years. Property taxes here are about the same, but houses significantly cheaper. No state income tax. Even though we have hurricanes the home insurance is significantly cheaper in Florida, but I lived in a fire zone on California. We moved because we couldn’t afford to retire in California and it’s very affordable here in Florida. However, we do miss living on the west coast but our standard of living here is much higher than it could have been out west.

That is a championship course. The executive courses are free.

FL vs CAL
 

My wife and I escaped California for The Villages a year ago. Best move we could ever made!

Comparatively reasonable. Depends on your lifestyle - if you play championship golf courses and dine out a lot etc.
Cheaper than Calif I'll bet. Visit a couple of times to check it out.

Still have to pay trail fees.