2019 Moving to Florida Relocation Guide
Welcome to 2019 Ultimate Moving to Florida Relocation Guide! Before this big step, find out all important information about Florida.
Take a look at the list of housing, transportation and childcare costs, and learn about the living cost index in Florida.
All information regarding costs and pricing is compared with average US pricing.
For moving tips in general check out our Moving Checklist and Paperwork page.
Welcome to the state of breathtaking beaches, white sand, and perfect weather. Welcome to the state of diversity, tolerance and laid back atmosphere. Welcome to the state of popular culture, welcome to The Sunshine State, welcome to Florida. Enjoy the perfect ocean, amazing natural wonders, hidden beaches, caves and hills. There is much more to Florida than Miami.
Florida is a state in which culture is shaped with diversity, where you will be able to meet people from all over the world and learn about different cultures. You will be able to explore important cultural venues and historic sites. Education in Florida is ranked highly on lists and healthcare is also on top of them.
Florida will offer you great job opportunities with affordable living costs. Florida is the third most populated state in the USA and the population is still growing. Florida is simply offering something for everyone and you will be able to find the place that meets your lifestyle here.
The Sunshine State will allow you to spend most of your days outdoors. You will enjoy the weather and the beaches, but there is much more to Florida than just does obvious perks. There are a lot of factors that you need to consider before making a move, and you should get to know the biggest advantages and disadvantages of moving to Florida. Go ahead and read all about the pros and cons of moving to Florida, get prepared for this step, the perks of living in Florida are endless:
There are still many parts of the state where you will be able to purchase a house at an affordable price. Living costs are relatively low too if you are not moving to Miami or some other major city.
You can play tennis, golf, ride a bike or walk throughout the whole year. There are so many exercising opportunities when the weather is nice all the time. There is also a lot of fresh fruit growing all around the state, and healthcare in Florida is amazing.
There is no state income tax in Florida which will lower your overall tax burden. Gas taxes are higher in Florida, but you can always choose to walk, Florida is flat country.
There are plenty of outdoor options in Florida. It is not only the beach. You can visit numerous state and national parks and nature preserves, you can enjoy the rivers and lakes and even a hill. There are many exotic animal species that you will be able to see, and you will be able to explore some of the world's most beautiful forests.
Florida is one of the leading agricultural states in the country. Vegetables, fruits, and nuts can grow 12 months of the year. You can find fresh food anywhere at any time.
Florida is shaped by diversity! You will be able to meet different cultures, and you will enjoy the way that different lifestyles work together. Apart from that, Florida is filled with friendly natives who will be happy to welcome you!
The Ocean will provide you with so many different opportunities. You can choose the type of beach that fits your mood. There are beaches that are sporty, with surfers and volleyball then there are low key party beaches and you will also be able to find less commercial unexplored beaches where you can find your peace.
There are numerous family-friendly leisure options in Florida. First of all, there is the famous Disney World, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are also Universal Studios and Busch Gardens theme parks.
You can enjoy sports activities throughout the whole year. Florida has numerous tennis and golf courses. If you are a fan of baseball Florida is the perfect state for you!
Florida is called the Sunshine State for a reason. Weather is perfect here if you like the sun, There is no need to shovel snow during the winter and you will be able to spend all of your free time outside.
Read about hurricane safety and listen to the news. Ask the locals to give you tips. The first hurricane season will be tough, but you will learn how to deal with it very soon.
You’ll need a car to get around, and you will need the car because of the endless road trip opportunities.
Florida is filled with exotic animals and insects. There are lots of bugs everywhere and some of them are really big. There are a lot of fruit flies, spiders, mosquitos and even snakes and scorpions.
Weather in Florida can be a con for many people. If you would like to have all 4 seasons Florida is not for you. Florida is often described as hot and humid, with lots of thunderstorms and hurricanes.
Florida is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations in the world. You need to be prepared to deal with a lot of tourists during the travel season.
There are numerous cities where you will be able to enjoy the amazing nightlife but you should know that some places are more slow and quiet. If you are a party maniac Florida may not be the perfect choice for you.
Florida is one of the states with the highest median age. Warm weather and retirement tax-friendliness are the main reasons for this. This does not mean that young people should not move to Florida. You just need to choose your city wisely.
Moving to Florida is a big, challenging step and the state offers so many different opportunities. Whether you are moving for work or for pleasure you will find our tips useful. Here are 10 TIPS about moving to Florida, 10 facts that will help you prepare for this step.
This ultimate moving checklist will help you complete your moving without stress.
You know you want to live in The Sunshine State but you don't know which city to choose? Take a look at the list of top 6 best places to live in Florida according to usnews. Every city in Florida has its pros and cons and you should choose wisely, there are a lot of factors that you should consider.
Sarasota
Melbourne
Fort Myers
Pensacola
Jacksonville
Tampa
There are certain costs associated with moving that most people tend to neglect. Even if you have opted for a self-moving job that does not involve hiring a professional moving company, you will have to pay extra for certain things. Here is a list of moving and packing costs you may have forgotten.
If you plan to move on a budget and want to fo the packing yourself, you must know that you will need to invest in packing supplies like boxes, tape or bubble wrap.
During the move something almost always brake. Getting moving insurance is always recommended. Most of the moving companies offer insurance and you can decide how much to get, considering how valuable your things are.
For renting new space start-up costs include things like your first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, a pet deposit or an application fee.
If you are buying start-up costs are much bigger. They include closing costs for your new mortgage which is often measured in thousands of dollars. Average closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the cost of your home. These costs include things like a fee for running your credit report, a loan origination fee, attorney’s fees, the cost of a home inspection, a title search, an appraisal fee, and a survey fee, etc.
You can expect extra costs for boarding your pets. Often enough, people tend to move their pets overnight, that way pets are not exposed to the stress.
Some of the moving companies will ask you to pay a stair fee.
It is always best to check with moving companies about extra fees and inform them about your large items, like piano or pool table, in advance. That way you will avoid surprises on a moving day.
There are professionals who are trained to handle valuable items. Packing and moving valuable items is more complex than regular moving. So you can expect to pay extra on moving those kinds of pieces.
Sometimes, you don't want to bring all of your things to your new home, but you don't want to throw them either. If you find yourself in this situation you will have to find storage space for those things. Having to store items could mean an additional monthly expense.
While you shouldn't get rid of everything before a move, there are going to be some items that you're not going to want to bring to your new space.
Your movers are doing a lot of hard work and heavy lifting, and they deserve to be compensated. Just note, that tips are always expected by your movers.
Here you can find a list of shipping costs. Please note that the cost of international shipping (calculated with reallymoving) is solely the cost of shipping itself. Costs are calculated for moving entire two bedroom home, in the next three monts.
| Moving From | Cost |
|---|---|
| Vancouver (Canada) | $4,100 - $5,600 |
| Sydney (Australia) | $4,900 - $6,700 |
| Auckland (New Zealand) | $4,900 - $6,700 |
| Beijing (China) | $5,100 - $6,900 |
| Tokyo (Japan) | $4,900 - $6,700 |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | $3,800 - $6,400 |
| Mexico City (Mexico) | $3,500 - $5,600 |
| London (United Kingdom) | $4,000 - $5,400 |
| Dublin (Ireland) | $3,800 - $5,400 |
| Singapore | $4,900 - $6,700 |
Culture in Florida is mostly shaped by diversity. There is a saying that almost everybody is from someplace else. Florida is a place of new music genres, Latino hip-hop music, Caribbean spices, and the state is one of the world's most important trendsetters. There is much more to Florida than stereotypes about celebrities, there are many important cultural venues that you don't want to miss. Take a look at our list of top 6 cultural venues in Florida.
Collection of Dalí's Works Outside Europe
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Fully-Operational WWII Ship Museum
The State Art Museum of Florida
Vintage Aircraft Collection
Florida living costs vary throughout the state but Florida is a low-tax state and taxes don't play a big role in living costs. The housing market also depends on the city, but in most of the cities, you will be able to find affordable housing options. In large cities, prices are higher while you can still find a lot of places with low living costs. Utilities are higher in Florida and you have to be prepared to year-round ac. For more information about living costs visit numbeo or BestPlaces.
$146.54
$0.08
$66.73
4.38
| Cost of Living | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118.7 | 100 |
| Transportation | 130 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101.3 | 100 |
| Grocery | 101.5 | 100 |
| Health | 97.8 | 100 |
| Other | 96.9 | 100 |
| Housing | Buy per Sq Ft | Monthly Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $154.68 | $1,115.72 |
| Miami | $378.39 | $1,799.83 |
| Tampa | $237.82 | $1,356.03 |
| Orlando | $201.96 | $1,469.41 |
| St. Petersburg | $284.33 | $1,209.68 |
| Hialeah | $224.75 | $1,305.67 |
| US Average | $242.48 | $1,294.88 |
| Transportation | One Way Ticket | Monthly Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $1.50 | $50.00 |
| Miami | $2.25 | $112.50 |
| Tampa | $2.00 | $65.00 |
| Orlando | $2.00 | $50.00 |
| St. Petersburg | $2.50 | $70.00 |
| Hialeah | $2.25 | $112.50 |
| US Average | $2.25 | $70.00 |
| Child Care | Preschool | Primary School |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $625.00 | $10,500.00 |
| Miami | $742.00 | $18,916.67 |
| Tampa | $819.36 | $10,996.00 |
| Orlando | $831.25 | $11,644.44 |
| St. Petersburg | $733.33 | $10,996.00 |
| Hialeah | $650.00 | $13,000.00 |
| US Average | $896.05 | $16,125.51 |
Average Yearly Salary in Florida is $57,000
Currently, most popular and best-paid jobs in Florida are:
All the information is provided by Glassdoor and Payscale where you can get more detailed information about the job of interest. If you don't have a specific job in mind, you can also check this list of 10 common jobs and professions in the United States with an average salary for each of them.
| Job | Florida | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $10.12/h | $10.57/h |
| Receptionist | $12.58/h | $13.34/h |
| Repair Technician | $15.90/h | $16.24/h |
| Actor | $10.75/h | $11.06/h |
| Registered Nurse | $31.04/h | $33.87/h |
| Secretary | $12.19/h | $13.96/h |
| Preschool Teacher | $10.87/h | $12.52/h |
| High School Teacher | $17.37/h | $19.20/h |
| Lawyer | $64.39/h | $65.62/h |
The Florida education system consists of public and private schools in Florida, including the State University System of Florida (SUSF), the Florida College System (FCS), the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) and other private institutions, and also secondary and primary schools. There are 12 public universities that comprise the State University System of Florida, while the state's public primary and secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of Education. Take a look at the list of top 6 universities in Florida, according to UniRank.
Acronuym: UF
Acronuym: USF
Acronuym: FSU
Acronuym: UCF
Acronuym: UM
Florida International University
Acronuym: FIU
State of Florida
Florida is the 3rd-most populous and the 8th-most densely populated of the U.S. states. Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state while Miami metropolitan area is Florida's most populous urban area. Tallahassee is the state's capital. Florida's $1.0 trillion economy is the fourth largest in the United States. The first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, who called it la “La Florida” meaning the land of flowers. Florida also has the largest collection of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne buildings in both the United States and the entire world.
Tallahassee
Jacksonville
myflorida.com
English
Spanish, French Creole, French, Portuguese, German, Tagalog, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese and other.
Length - 447 mi (721 km)
Width - 361 mi (582 km)
| Florida Demographics by Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| White | 15,343,997 | 75.67% |
| Asian | 543,394 | 2.68% |
| Other Race | 536,298 | 2.64% |
| Black or African American | 3,270,863 | 16.13% |
| Two or More Races | 514,823 | 2.54% |
| Native American | 56,730 | 0.28% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 12,342 | 0.06% |
| Temperature | Annual High | Annual Low | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 26.6°C | 13.3°C | 19.95°C |
| Miami | 29°C | 21.1°C | 25.05°C |
| Tampa | 27.6°C | 18.4°C | 23°C |
| Orlando | 28°C | 17.9°C | 22.95°C |
| St. Petersburg | 27.7°C | 18.6°C | 23.15°C |
| Hialeah | 28.1°C | 20.8°C | 24.45°C |
Very low: 0 - 20, Low: 20 - 40, Moderate: 40 - 60, High: 60 - 80, Very high: 80 - 100. By numbeo.
| City | Crime Index | Safety Index | Level of crime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 56.85 | 43.15 | 71.43 |
| Miami | 52.73 | 47.27 | 58.89 |
| Tampa | 49.96 | 50.04 | 57.21 |
| Orlando | 52.77 | 47.23 | 62.75 |
| St. Petersburg | 37.82 | 62.18 | 43.75 |
| Hialeah | 52.73 | 47.27 | 58.89 |
Florida is filled with famous tourist attractions and destinations like Miami or Disney World, but that is not all. The Sunshine State is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and it hosts hundreds of miles of sandy beaches and unexplored ocean shores. The State of Florida is home to numerous national parks, caves, natural wonders and diverse landscapes. Take a look at our list of top 6 national attractions to visit in Florida.
Everglades National Park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River. Everglades is the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States.
Big Cypress is one of the first national preserves in the United States National Park System. The preserve is home to American Alligators and Florida Panthers. Big Cypress is one of the most popular hunting and hiking locations.
Wekiwa Springs State Park is a 7,000-acre (28 km2) park and one of the most popular campnig and hiking locations in Florida. The main attraction at Wekiwa Springs Park is the spring providing water to the Wekiva River.
The Canaveral National Seashore (CANA) is a National Seashore and home to more than 1,000 plant species and 310 bird species. The park's 24-mile-long beach is the longest undeveloped beach on the east coast of the state.
The Blue Spring State Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Available outdoor activities include canoeing, SCUBA diving, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife watching, swimming, and many more.
Paynes Prairie Preserve is a U.S. National Natural Landmark. It is in the center of the Paynes Prairie Basin. Over 270 species of birds can be seen in the park as well as American alligators and herds of Florida Cracker horses.
