is just the cure for the winter blues—and for paying personal income tax. The sunny weather, white sand beaches, legendary nightlife, rich culture, and lighter pandemic-related social restrictions make Miami a desirable place to move to, but rents are higher than ever and crime is on the rise.

Why not turn your vacation into your lifestyle by moving down to Miami? Whether you’re looking to eat the best Cuban sandwich you’ve ever had, wear a swimsuit year-round, or always have an enviable tan, Miami will have something for you.

Before you pack up your belongings and book it to

Florida

, you should consider whether living in the Magic City is really what you’re after. Here to help you out is

, the

app for

and

insurance.

We’ve compiled this ultimate guide to moving to Miami with everything you’ll need to know before you go, and added some pointers on how to make the moving process as seamless as possible.

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What you need to know about Miami before you move

1. Rent isn’t cheap…and it keeps going up

Bad news for those looking to score a cheap deal on rent—you probably won’t find one in Miami. During the pandemic, many remote workers migrated south to enjoy Miami’s warm sunny beaches and lighter COVID-19 restrictions. This sudden population increase drove rents up nearly 40% between 2021 and 2022, making it the fastest-growing rent in the entire United States.

Although Miami is not the largest city in the Sunshine State (

Jacksonville

has that title), Miami is largely considered the most expensive city in which to live in Florida. Average rent hovers around $2,132 per month for a one-bedroom and apartments are around 887 square feet.

Exactly what you pay, though, will depend on where you live. Brickell Key is the most expensive neighborhood in Miami to live in with one-bedroom rents soaring to $3,111, while Palmer Lake is significantly cheaper at just $919.

Shockingly, however, utilities are lower than average at around $115 per month.

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How to redo a car title when you move to another state

2. Tourism and nightlife are huge, but they’re not the only viable industries

Miami is a total hotbed for tourism and nightlife, arguably two of the largest and most lucrative industries to work in. The service industry, as it relates to nightlife, is evergreen: bartending at one of Miami’s famed nightclubs or waiting tables at one of their many upscale restaurants are excellent ways to get hired in Miami.

Because of its proximity to Central and South America, transportation is also a booming Miami industry. It’s particularly attractive to large, multinational companies looking for a conveniently located port city.

But, if office jobs are more your speed, Miami is a great place to work in sales, banking, office administration, or as a customer service representative.

3. Like rent, crime is also on the rise

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: crime is up in Miami. Let’s look at the stats: according to a

Miami-Dade Police Department report

, violent crimes in Miami have risen by 27.67% and nonviolent crimes are up 12.62% since last year.

Car theft, specifically, went up nearly 30% with over 1,102 reported incidents in the first six months of 2022 alone. So, if you plan on bringing a car with you to Miami, be sure to outfit your car with some

anti theft

devices to help keep it safe.

That said, this is not true across the city. Know which parts of town to avoid after dark. Model City, Overtown, and Downtown Miami are considered the most dangerous areas, while high tourism levels in Miami Beach breed more crimes like purse theft and pickpocketing.

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4. It’s doable for kids, but a little easier for dogs

Miami’s booming nightlife and arts scene tends to appeal to a younger crowd…or at least to a crowd that isn’t quite ready to let go of the halcyon days of their youth. The population of Miami has a median age of 40.1 years.

While a lot of Miami does skew more adult, there are still a couple of very kid-friendly neighborhoods, like Coral Gables and Key Biscayne. Although about 18.1% of Miami’s population is under the age of 14, you’re more likely to find families and kids along the outskirts of the city.

Four-legged family members, however, seem to be welcome almost anywhere. Miami’s warm, sunny weather and abundance of dog parks, like Blanche Park and Perrine Wayside, make for an extremely dog-friendly town of about 480,000 pooches.

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Florida minimum car insurance laws

5. Driving is your best bet, but you’ll have to get comfortable with traffic

Miami does offer several forms of public transportation like buses, trolleys, and tri-rails. At $2.25 a ride, they’re a pretty affordable option for those without a car. That being said, Miami dwellers are better off driving—even if it means sitting in traffic. Public transportation stops are few and far between and are especially to reach from the city’s outer neighborhoods.

Driving in Miami may mean dealing with some serious traffic congestion; Miami drivers spend an average of 65 hours per year in gridlock. But, Miami is notoriously not a walkable city, so waiting in your air-conditioned car sure beats trekking on foot through in hot weather.

6. The rumors are true: Miami is hot

There’s a reason their basketball team is the Miami Heat and not the Miami It’s-pretty-mild-all-year-round. Miami gets hot! August, the hottest month of the year, sees average temperatures around 89F with humidity levels reaching 73%. If you had to put a label on it, Miami fits squarely into a subtropical climate category.

Even in the dog days of summer, Miami has one of the best ways to cool off—a trip to the beach! Access to beaches is easily one of the greatest parts of living in Miami, and with 248 days of sunshine per year, there are ample opportunities to dig your toes in the sand.

June is the rainiest month and January is the coldest with overnight temperatures dipping into the 60s. Miami winters—if you can even call them that—are relatively short and dry (between December to February) with temperatures still in the 70s during the day.

7. It’s almost got its own language

While, like the rest of the country, English is the official language spoken in Miami, Spanish is also very popular. This is due to the city’s proximity to Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean, especially Cuba. Nearly 67% percent of Miami’s population speaks Spanish, and such prominence has given rise to Spanglish, a hybrid of English and Spanish slang.

If you open your ears and pay attention to the street chatter, you may even begin to pick up Miami’s unique lexicon.

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Does Miami live up to its stereotypes?

Miami: it’s a spring breaker's destination, a beach-lover’s paradise, it’s got amazing Cuban food, and some truly one-of-a-kind nightlife. Largely, Miami does live up to its reputation as a city that loves to party all night long, has a strong

arts scene

, fabulous beaches, and a noticeable Latin influence.

There are a couple of other things to know about Miamians. Year-round beach weather calls for year-round beach bods—many locals live active lifestyles and take pride in staying in shape. Much of life in Miami revolves around the beach, so beachwear is a popular fashion choice. A bikini or a speedo is just an average day’s outfit down in Miami!

Finding a place to live in Miami

After reading through the list above you decide that moving to Miami is really what you want, you’ll need to narrow down your apartment search by looking at a couple of neighborhoods. In case you’re unfamiliar, here are some of Miami’s standout neighborhoods:

Most iconic neighborhoods: South Beach, Miami Beach, Wynwood

Best neighborhoods for families with kids: Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne

Best neighborhoods for foodies: Little Havana, Downtown Miami, Sunset Harbor

Best neighborhoods for car owners: North Beach, Sunset Harbor, Miami Beach

Most affordable neighborhoods: Bay Harbor Islands, Little Havana, Coconut Grove

Monthly rent will cost you a lot if you live by yourself, so if your budget is a little tighter, you should consider finding some roommates to help with the costs of moving.

MORE: Tips for moving out of state

Moving to Miami checklist

Once you’ve found your apartment and put down your security deposit, it’s time to head to the hardware store to stock up on tape and boxes ahead of your big move. Take a look at these moving guidelines for a much easier moving process.

Before you go

Hire movers if you plan on bringing an entire apartment’s worth of belongings with you. Or, you can rent a U-Haul if you’d rather handle things yourself.

Let your landlord, boss, and insurance provider know that you’ll be moving

Ship your car to Miami doing the drive feels too ambitious to take on

After you get there

Update your

vehicle registration

and car insurance provider to reflect your move to Miami

Before you’ve settled in, make sure to protect your new pad with some renters insurance

Change your official mailing address, health insurance info, and voter registration

How to save on insurance in Miami

Monthly rent is only getting more expensive in Miami, so it’s important to save on costs wherever you can. And, you hate to hear it, but you’re probably already overpaying for your

car insurance

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Is it worth moving to Miami?

We can’t tell you what’s best for your life, but we can give you a little guidance. If you’re fine with paying a little more in rent and looking for somewhere with a bustling nightlife scene, a city with arts and culture, and sunny weather all year round, Miami is probably for you! Just because it’s near the beach, though, doesn’t mean that you’ll get a laid-back, beach-town lifestyle: Miami is first and foremost a city.

How much money do I need to move to Miami?

It’s recommended that you make about $3500 a month to live comfortably in Miami.

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