2019 Moving to Miami Relocation Guide
Welcome to 2019 Ultimate Moving to Miami Relocation Guide! Before this big step, find out all important information about Miami.
Take a look at the list of basic daily expenses, transportation costs, basic leisure, and recreation costs and housing and utilities cost in Miami.
Every 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 “Capital of Latin America, welcome to the sunny city, the city of white sand beaches, theme parks, and open-air galleries, welcome to Miami. Miami is an Alpha level global city and it was ranked as the third-richest city in the United States. The city is major center of culture, media, entertainment, art, and finance. You will never run out of things to enjoy in Miami. The perfect climate will allow you to become an outdoor person and go on all sorts of adventures. You will be able to enjoy all sorts of landscapes, apart from the most famous, beach landscape.
Welcome to the casual city, where you can never be late. Embrace one of the best nightlife scenes in the USA, embrace the night. Miami is not all about nightlife and beaches, you will find all sorts of job opportunities and possibilities to develop your career here too. The city is a major center of international banking and finance, business services and all types of manufacturing including apparel, metal products, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and more.
Living in Miami means that your life will be filled with endless sunshine, palm trees, beaches, exotic animals and neverending outdoor activities.
Miami is nothing like other cites that you have visited or lived in. People either love it or hate. It is a city of endless opportunities, warm weather, and countless cultures. There are a few things that some may consider being a pro of living in Miami, while others can take it as a con. Never the less, moving to Miami will be a unique and big challenge so you will want to be as prepared as possible. Go ahead and read all about the pros and cons of moving to the City of Miami:
Miami is the city of perfect beaches and widely famous white sand. All of the beaches are clean, they are not as crowded as you may think you can spend the whole day here because you will find anything you need around the corner. Almost all of the beaches are public and there are also a few hidden spots that are more private and wid. So choose your style and go o a beach.
Art and Culture in Miami will keep you busy 24/7. Open-air galleries are the Miami thing, but apart from that, you can visit numerous museums, art galleries, and cultural venues. There are a lot of art-related activities that kids will enjoy too. Miami is also one of the most important entertainment centers in the USA, so you will be able to fell the small part of the LA’s celebrity-oriented culture in here too. Numerous famous movies and tv shows were filmed in Miami, so you can always go and visit some of the worldwide known locations.
Coming from the descriptions of New York City, Miami became famous as the city that never sleeps too. Nightlife options here are endless and there is something for everyone. You will find yourself partying until the morning hours, going to sunrise after parties and sleeping through the day. If clubs are not your thing, you will also find numerous live music events or casual bars.
Weather is one of the main reasons that attract people to this city. Sunshine will allow you to spend most of the days outside enjoying outdoor activities that the city offers. Some may say that the heat is too much sometimes but there are numerous ways to cool down by the water, under the palm trees or in open bars. You will never have to miss an event because of the rain, and you can always plan your weekend road trip without worrying about the weather.
When living in Miami, you won't have to worry about income tax. You will still have to pay property and sales tax, but pensions and inheritance fund stretch further in Miami. Many people choose to retire here. Miami allows you to keep most of what you have earned.
People in Miami don't follow any strict schedules, and you will find that everything runs a bit late in here. So if you are sick of living under stress that you will be late, Miami will take that stress away from you. You are on time until the last person leaves. This open schedule does not apply to your job or schools, there are some things that need to be in order after all.
Miami is filled with public events. You can choose from common leisure activities, like sho[ing, movies, walking, hiking or swimming you can also engage yourself to more unconventional adventures. The sports scene is also great. It is almost impossible to get bored in Miami.
It is not all about beaches and outdoor activities. Something is always happing in Miami. Public events are all around the town. There is a club that works 24/7 and Miami is one of the cities places to have a 24-hour liquor license. You will be able to attend some of the world-famous festivals here too.
Theme Parks are not fun for children only, but the great thing is that you will always have something to do with your family too. Disney World, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens are located in Miami.
There are numerous exotic species that you can interact with. Especially at the beach where you will find turtles, unique bird species, fish and much more. You can also visit Miami Zoo and spend the day in the animal kingdom.
Miami is one of the most expensive cities to live in the USA. There are some financial advantages, but the cost of everyday life is higher than in most of the other major cities. On the bright side, salaries are higher than average too, but you will still need to get prepared for saving.
You will need to have a 6 figure salary in order to be able to afford a house in Miami. Most of the citizens are renting which is not cheap either.
You will need a car. Public transportation is not as developed here as you would expect in such a big city. You will have a problem finding the bus to take you where you need to be. Having a car will save you the trouble of finding the right bus, but the traffic is not great either. Make sure you stay at home during the rush hours and prepare yourself for losing a lot of time begin stuck in the traffic. On the bright side, you won't be late so you don't have to worry too much.
Al big cities have problems with bugs, but the bug problem in Miami is different. There are some big bugs, exotic insects that you will not find in other big cities. Prepare yourself for roaches, scorpions, snakes, spider and a lot of mosquitoes.
As it was mentioned earlier, wheater can be both a pro and a con of living in Miami. It can get really hot during the summer months, and you may feel like there is nothing that can cool you down. Warm weather is great for outdoor activities but the levels of heat and humidity can be unbearable somites. In Miami, average daytime high temperatures in January are higher than average daytime high temperatures in July in Seattle for example.
Moving to a new city can be really stressful. Even though Miami is the city of the sun and the beaches, the laid back atmosphere where you can never be late, there are some things you need to be prepared for. Living in a city with high living cost also means higher stress level, so you will want to avoid all of the unnecessary problems. If you are considering moving to Miami, you will want to get some information ahead, here are 10 TIPS for moving to Miami, 10 facts that will help you prepare for this step.
This ultimate moving checklist will help you complete your moving without stress.
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, while the cost of shipping within the United States (calculated with moving.com) also includes other additional expenses. Costs are calculated for moving entire two bedroom home, in the next three monts.
| International | Cost |
|---|---|
| Vancouver (Canada) | $3,900 - $5,200 |
| Sydney (Australia) | $4,600 - $6,200 |
| Auckland (New Zealand) | $4,600 - $6,200 |
| Beijing (China) | $4,700 - $6,500 |
| Tokyo (Japan) | $4,600 - $6,200 |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | $3,600 - $6,000 |
| Mexico City (Mexico) | $3,100 - $5,200 |
| London (United Kingdom) | $3,600 - $5,000 |
| Dublin (Ireland) | $3,600 - $5,000 |
| Singapore | $4,600 - $6,200 |
| United States | Cost |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | $5,077 - $6,478 |
| New York, New York | $3,482 - $4,404 |
| Los Angeles, California | $4,850 - $6,183 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $3,495 - $4,418 |
| Austin, Texas | $3,463 - $4,375 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $3,610 - $4,567 |
| Miami, DC | $3,214 - $4,052 |
| Seattle, Miami | $5,292 - $6,759 |
| San Diego, California | $4,746 - $6,047 |
| Denver, Colorado | $4,157 - $5,280 |
According to statistics, only New York City is more expensive than Miami. Housing is the most challenging but even the everyday expenses are much higher than in other major cities. One of the most important things that you will need to learn before moving to Miami is how to make the responsible management of your money. If moving to Miami is the next step you will probably need to get informed about the cost of basic and personal necessities in this city. For more information about living costs visit numbeo or expatistan.
$118.54
$0.12
$60.60
4.59
| Food | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Meal in Inexpensive Restaurant | $15 | $14.50 |
| Mcmeal at Mcdonalds (or Equivalent) | $7.75 | $7.00 |
| Water (1.5 Liter Bottle) | $1.92 | $1.45 |
| Milk (Regular), (1 gallon) | $3.57 | $3.11 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | $2.59 | $2.36 |
| Eggs (Regular) (12) | $2.86 | $2.27 |
| Chicken Breasts (1 lb) | $3.01 | $3.85 |
| Potato (1 lb) | $1.88 | $1.1 |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.24 | $2.02 |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $4.45 | $4.74 |
| Child Care | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Monthly | $767.73 | $886.18 |
| International Primary School, Yearly | $18,916.67 | $17,116.12 |
| Self Care | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Private Doctor Short Visit | $107 | $112 |
| Box of Antibiotics | $31 | $17 |
| Tube of Toothpaste | $2.03 | $1.78 |
| Hair Shampoo 2-in-1 | $4.04 | $4.77 |
| Deodorant, Roll-on | $3.76 | $3.39 |
| Toilet Paper - 4 Rolls | $3.97 | $3.41 |
| 1 Box of 32 Tampons | $6 | $7 |
| Transportation | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Local Transport - One-way Ticket | $2.25 | $2.20 |
| Local Transport - Monthly Pass | $101 | $70.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $2.9 | $3.25 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $2.95 | $1.71 |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $2.69 | $2.77 |
| Housing | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) - City Centre | $1,853.10 | $1,291.27 |
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) | $1,343.26 | $1,015.10 |
| Buy Apartment in City Centre - Per Sq Ft | $378.39 | $239.62 |
| Buy Apartment - Per Sq Ft | $224.75 | $173.92 |
| Hourly Rate for Cleaning Help | $15 | $21 |
| Leisure and Recreation | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club Monthly Fee, 1 Adult | $39.99 | $36.17 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $17.64 | $15.14 |
| 2 Movie Tickets | $26 | $25 |
| 2 Theater Tickets (Best Available Seats) | $177 | $171 |
| Coke/pepsi (Small Bottle) | $1.99 | $1.80 |
| Cappuccino (Regular) | $3.74 | $4.07 |
| Domestic Beer (500ml) | $6 | $6.00 |
| Bottle of Wine | $14.5 | $12.00 |
| 1 Cocktail Drink | $34.09 | $12.00 |
| Marlboro Cigarettes 20 Pack | $6.5 | $7.25 |
| Clothing | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or Similar) | $42.51 | $43.12 |
| Summer Dress (Zara, H&m or Similar) | $34.09 | $34.67 |
| Pair of Nike Running Shoes | $76.58 | $73.84 |
| Pair of Men Leather Shoes | $91.84 | $94.36 |
| Laundry Detergent (3 L.) | $10 | $11 |
Average Yearly Salary in Miami is $53,222
Currently, most popular and best-paid jobs in Miami 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 | Miami | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $23,289/yr | $22,711/yr |
| Receptionist | $28,682/yr | $29,844/yr |
| Repair Technician | $32,954/yr | $32,606/yr |
| Actor | $36,417/yr | $37,208/yr |
| Registered Nurse | $62,020/yr | $69,270/yr |
| Secretary | $30,282/yr | $31,279/yr |
| Preschool Teacher | $25,621/yr | $28,973/yr |
| High School Teacher | $43,938/yr | $51,027/yr |
| Lawyer | $100,430/yr | $141,470/yr |
| Truck Driver | $53,844/yr | $57,062/yr |
The City of Miami
Officially the City of Miami is an American city that is the seat of Miami-Dade County and is the cultural, economic and financial center of South Florida. Miami is the sixth most densely populated major city in the United States with an estimated 2018 population of 470,914. In terms of land area, Miami is one of the smallest major cities in the United States. The city is split roughly into north, south, west and Downtown areas. Miami is nicknamed the "Capital of Latin America" and is the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality.
miamigov.com
myflorida.com
English
Spanish, French, French Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Hebrew, German and other.
305 and 786
33010–33299
Land: 35.87 sq mi (92.9 km2)
Water: 20.08 sq mi (52.0 km2)
| Miami Demographics by Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| White | 333,912 | 75.37% |
| Asian | 4,172 | 0.94% |
| Other Race | 14,433 | 3.26% |
| Black or African American | 81,512 | 18.40% |
| Two or More Races | 7,624 | 1.72% |
| Native American | 1,141 | 0.26% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 289 | 213 |
Single Filing Status, Average Miami Salary ($53,222) Taxes:
Percent of income to taxes = 27%.
For more personal information calculate your taxes with smartasset.
Miami struggles with crime-related problems in certain areas. Currently, Miami is much safer then it was in the '70s and '80s, the city is still affected by crime. Violent and property crime rates are higher then the national average. Miami crime index by numbeo is 51.92 (moderate).
List of flight costs, from Miami to other major cities. Based on the cheapest flights from skyscanner, booked one month ahead.
