If you’re interested in moving to Florida, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly 1,000 people are moving to Florida every day.
For years, Florida has been considered one of the most desirable states to move to. This is thanks to its temperate climate, attractions, sandy beaches, and financial incentives.
But before you finally make that trek down to the Sunshine State, it’s important that you first understand how to move to Florida. Luckily for you, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Florida. We’ll also give you an overview of some of the most popular cities in the state and things that you need to look out for.
So keep on reading and we’ll walk you through everything that you’ll want to know about moving to Florida!
- Learn the Pros and Cons of Living in Florida
No matter where you end up living when you move to Florida, there are certain pros and cons that you need to be aware of. You should take some time to go over how these considerations might impact your daily life now as well as several years from now.
For example, can you tolerate the heat and humidity? While factors like this might seem trivial, details like weather can end up affecting one’s quality of life. Some people like the change of seasons and other people only prefer a dry heat or a humid one.
Pros of Living in Florida
First, we’ll go over some of the top reasons why you should move to Florida. To start, Florida doesn’t make its residents pay a state income tax. This is a major perk for anyone who is trying to save some money.
You also have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best outdoor entertainment and beaches in the world. Florida residents also tend to get discounts to local attractions. And if you’re moving with your family, you should know that many of the state’s colleges consistently rank well across the board.
There’s also no snow and most areas are warm throughout the year.
There are also many communities in the state that are exclusively dedicated to retirees.
Cons of Living in Florida
You may have to face extreme humidity and heat as well as hurricanes throughout the year. The state is also extremely flat. You won’t find any valleys or mountains down there.
The state sees an unusually high number of part-time residents and tourists, which can annoy permanent residents. You’ll also end up paying more in insurance fees than in other states in the country.
Bugs are also all over the place and they tend to be pretty big. You also need to watch out for all of the alligators and snakes.
- Research the Best Cities in Florida
The best cities to live in in Florida will depend on your own personal preferences. What’s so great about Florida is the diversity of its cities and towns. So let’s look at some of the most popular cities and see what they’re all about.
Orlando
Orlando provides its residents with some of the best aspects of Florida. It’s very affordable to live in this city and you’re also near some of the most beloved attractions and amusement parks in the world.
In fact, many people consider Orlando to be the theme park capital of the world, and it’s pretty easy to see why that is. In this one city, you’ll find world-class attractions like Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, and Disney World.
It’s also worth noting that the public transportation throughout the city is extremely accessible. Plus, they have a great public education system and very low unemployment
The hardest part of living in Orlando will likely be trying to figure which of the many local sports teams to support.
Tampa
Tampa is one of the biggest cities in Florida, with more than 350,000 people calling it home. However, it doesn’t always feel that big. Tampa is great for single people as well as families. That’s partly thanks to the city’s great healthcare infrastructure and high-quality schools.
Plus, there are a lot of major corporations based out of the city too. In fact, Tampa is one of the best cities when it comes to job growth and they also have a low cost of living.
Tallahassee
Tallahassee is the state capital of Florida and succeeds at feeling both like a close-knit smalltown and a big city. Tallahassee is a major college town and is home to both Florida A&M University and Florida State University. This fairly quiet town becomes abuzz with commotion whenever college football season comes around.
It’s extremely affordable to live in Tallahassee. While it’s not on the beach, you can still enjoy many large parks. Plus, they have local festivals throughout the year, their own film festival, and all kinds of amazing concerts.
Because Tallahassee is in North Florida, you also get to experience a bit more of fall and winter than most other places in Florida. In fact, there’s a chance you might even see some snow every once in a while.
Miami
Even if you don’t know a whole lot about Florida, you definitely know about Miami. While tanning on South Beach and hitting the clubs at night might seem appealing enough, there are so many more reasons to love this metropolitan city.
Nearly half a million people call Miami home. The culture of the city is diverse, colorful, and energetic. This provides the opportunity for a true fusion of world cuisines and customs to mix together.
You’ll also get warm weather throughout the year.
- Know the Cost of Living
Out of the fifty states in the country, Florida was ranked as the thirtieth most affordable in 2018. So it’s not the cheapest but it’s also certainly not the most expensive.
Because of how diverse Florida is, costs are really going to come down to which city you decide to live in. While the price of utlities, groceries, and general expenses are on par with the average for the United States, the cost of housing can be fairly expensive.
The average home costs around $230,000. Compare that to the median price for an American home which is $200,000. Part of the reason why homes are more expensive has to do with the state’s housing shortage.
- Research the Things You Want to Do
Thanks to its beautiful weather, there are many outdoor activities that are available year-round in Florida. One of those activities on practically everyone’s list is likely to hit the beach.
Across the state, you’ll never be that far from a dozen different beaches. And each of those comes with its own beauty and charm.
On Florida’s east coast, you’ll have access to the Atlantic and can watch the surfers and parasailers. On the west coast of Florida, you’ll have access to the calm gulf waters.
Pretty much every day in Florida is a beach day.
If you end up in a city like Miami or Orlando, then you’ll have an abundance of nightlife options before you. Some of the best night clubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues are available in this state.
The only question is going to be, where do you start?
Another beloved aspect of Florida has to do with all of the many unique environments that one can experience. Take the Everglades, for instance.
This is a piece of land that seems like it was leftover from the dinosaur era. Here, you’ll be able to ride on fan boats as you move past massive alligators and all kinds of otherwordly plants.
There’s also the Florida Keys. The Keys are a long stretch of islands that extend nearly all the way to Cuba! The residents of the keys tend to have a penchant for relaxing, boating, and Pina Coladas.
The Importance of Knowing How to Move to Florida
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better understanding of how to move to Florida. As we can see, there is a lot to consider when you’re moving to Florida. And one of the most important factors will likely be choosing which city you want to live in.
Once you know that, the whole moving process should then become a lot easier. No matter what, it’s hard to find a place that you won’t like in a state like this.
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