Are you getting ready for a move to Miami? That’s nice, but you must gather enough information about what life in Miami is all about.
Miami is Florida’s 2nd largest city, with more than 450,000 residents. When you include the greater metro area, it is one of the largest cities in the country, with 6.1 million residents. Miami is also one of the most culturally diverse cities in America and is a leading destination for immigrants from all walks of life.
The population of its metro area consists of 69% Hispanic, 18% black, 13% white, and 2% Asian. If you are planning a move to Miami, there are several things you must know about. It is a great but expensive move that still requires some getting used to, especially if you’ve never been to a special place like Miami and have never lived in calmer or peaceful areas up north.
For those looking to move to Miami, we’ve compiled information and resources to help simplify the decision-making process.
1. There is much Population Influx because of COVID-19
Miami is experiencing a surprising surge of growth because of its perception as a haven from the COVID-19 pandemic. While states like New York and Michigan have endured strict lockdowns, Florida was one of the first states to allow businesses to reopen. Thus, a lot of people from the Midwest, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest are migrating to Miami because they consider it as a warm, bustling, and business-friendly city.
Some speculations exist that Miami is on its way to becoming the next Silicon Valley as techies and entrepreneurs are leaving the Bay Area.
2. It is Affordable to Live in Miami
Good news; if you are considering a move to Miami. Saying that living in Miami is affordable is never wrong because those that earn on average still get things at reasonable prices. For instance, houses, food, car rentals, and many more can be gotten at cheaper prices.
There are just a lot of things to do and pay for, which is the reason why most products and services are cheap. On the contrary, there are some expensive locations where the rich folks live. The cost of living in these areas is higher since many high-class people call it home. You can choose to search for affordable and safe locations in Miami before you move over.
3. Most Miami Residents Speak Spanish
It is not mandatory to learn to speak Spanish but understanding a few slang and words will be a benefit to you. It will also be helpful to quickly fit in since most Miami residents speak Spanish, and you want to quickly fit in. In a case where you don’t know what is being discussed, it’ll be helpful. You don’t have to learn Spanish from A to Z, but knowing a bit of Spanish would hide the fact that you are a new Miamian.
4. Miami is Beyond the Beaches
Miami is popularly known for its beaches just like Acapulco or the Caribbean are. There are many beach-related cases featured in Miami Vice, an old show that may even be considered Baywatch Nights. Miami Beaches are popularly known in pop culture, but if all that you know about Miami are its beaches, then you likely are not a resident here.
Miami is also a destination for tourists because similar to other cosmopolitan attractions, you will always have things to do here, housing every last pay grade. This means that for those who finally move to Miami, you are now closer to having vacation experiences or, daily vacation experiences at your fingertip.
5. Transportation is Cheap
Miami offers cheap options to move from one location to another. You can use the Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover. You will not be paying parking fees and get to see some locations in the process. You will be paying as low as $.10 as fares on Miami’s public transportation for a shuttle bus and up to $2.25.
Transportation will affect your budget when you relocate to Miami. Prepare around $5,113 for transportation being a single adult. Families of two that are working and with a child need to budget a minimum of $9, 378.
6. Job Payment is a Bit Low
It is a well-established fact that job payment (part or full time) is low. It is manageably understandable because services are highly required. The truth is that they don’t have enough to pay higher amounts for workers. It is also one of the reasons why the cost of living is affordable.
You will need to be ready to work over two jobs to live a comfortable life. This is a fact Miamians have come to make peace with, which is why they are found working different jobs to afford some things. It is a norm in Miami, and soon, you will adapt to it. We also advise that you secure a job before you move to Miami.
Guide for How to move Miami without job?
7. You Will Enjoy Great Nightlife
Are you aware that things run a bit later in Miami? That means that Miami is a nocturnal city that turns lively at night. That is highly expected since it is a place where Carnival also happens even though it is not Rio or Louisiana. As regards the daytime, you will enjoy a relaxed pace of siesta before the fiesta waiting for you after the sun goes down. Even though Miami traffic can be somehow harsh sometimes during the day, you should not be tense at all. Instead, you should develop a relaxed attitude of a surfer dude in this gorgeous beachfront city (and you will meet many a surfer here).
8. There are Neighborhoods for You
There are diverse and ever-changing neighborhoods in Miami, so we’ve made effort to make things easy by highlighting some of the neighborhoods we like:
- Coconut Grove: This neighborhood is founded in 1973 and is the oldest inhabited area in Miami. Located South of Brickell and The Roads neighborhoods, as well as east of Coral Gables, Coconut Grove has a calm bohemian feel and offers a great number of boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and galleries.
- Brickell: Located just south of the iconic Central Business District and north of Coconut Grove, this neighborhood is the major financial district of Miami. It started to be developed in the late 1800s by the Brickell family, and because of the effort of Mary, Brickell became popular as Miami’s Millionaire’s Row in the 1920s. Now, a lot of those mansions have been replaced by apartments and office towers that have developed the neighborhood to house about 56,000 people.
- Wynwood: This neighborhood is an eclectic district where there is an abundance of bars, eateries, galleries, and retail shops. It was referred to as Miami’s garment district around the mid-1900s, but in the early 2000s, because of its Art Walk Block parties’ introduction, the neighborhood become famous worldwide for innovation and other forms of creative business.
- Morningside: Packed with gorgeous Mediterranean Revival-style homes designed by famous architects, Morningside became the first historic district of Miami in 1984. It is situated along Biscayne Bay and is calm and homey.
9. No Income, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
If you wish to save more of your income, Miami is a perfect place to live. Florida doesn’t charge taxes on income, property, and inheritance. If you work in San Francisco and relocate to Miami, you might be amazed to find out that the differences between taxes in California and Florida are enough to pay a McDonald’s worker for a year. So, if you are searching for a location to save the money you earn or a retirement destination where you can improve the fruits of your many years of labor, move to Miami.
10. Miami has Good Food
Miami is famous for having fresh and delicious foods. You will surely be captivated by the food. They have delicious and relatively affordable restaurants, which also draws tourists to the city. You will need to know better ways to spend your money on food when you live in Miami to avoid breaking fast.
11. Miami Receives Many Tourists
Many people get to see Miami from movies and hear from Miami residents. They get so much attracted to Miami and decide to visit and see for themselves. We all know that many married couples like to travel to Miami for their honeymoon due to its beauty. Tourists want to have a taste of famous cuisines and cocktails in Miami, enjoy the sea and the sand, and visit the famous Miami Clubs. Because Miami locals get to see a lot of tourists, they get so tired of them as they make traffic more difficult.
12. Healthy Living is Great
Miami is naturally filled with beautiful people who never joke about their health. Choose Miami if you wish to be a part of gym rat culture. If you also love to build your body or get a bikini-ready figure, then choose Miami as your next destination because it is fitness-friendly ever since.
Back in the 80s, aerobics is the trend in Miami. In the 90s, Tae Bo and exercise machines were the trends. At the start of the new millennium, everyone was doing CrossFit or a gluten-free diet. It feels like the evolution of fitness around here with everyone in Miami and their beach body mentality.
13. Miami has Some Intense Traffic
Traffic is intense when tourists move to Miami all through the year. According to studies, the average commute in Miami is 56 minutes which makes it one of the worst commute times in the United States. Plan your commute accordingly or get in a public transport option to reduce the stress and get yourself busy with your gadgets.
14. Most Miami Residents Don’t Stick to a Schedule
Don’t ever take the word of most Miamians as regards time. They’ve been so adapted to ‘Miamians time’ and so they don’t often keep to time. If you have an agreement to meet someone by 4 pm, expect them to show up by 6 pm. You will be adapted to their time in no time, so don’t worry; it’s a norm in Miami.
15. There is Great wildlife in Miami
Miami is similar to Australia as regards its natural beauty and great biodiversity. That should be expected. It is not only human that love to live in beachfront property. So many different snakes, reptiles, bugs, and gators; the place is mostly like a zoo. You will get to see a lot of Palmetto bugs and also get used to them and different other unique wildlife and insects if you wish to reside in Miami. It is unrealistic to think you will not have visitation from bug all through the year.
16. Hurricane Weather is a Thing
The tropical weather in Miami makes it a nice place to move to. However, that comes with some side effects. Here, hurricane weather and muggy summers are popular. Miami is ranked in the top 5 cities most vulnerable to hurricanes in the country. Researchers also mentioned that there is a 16% possibility of Miami seeing hurricane effects during any year.
17. Miami Walkability
The city of Miami is tagged highly walkable, always being on Walk Score’s top 10 yearly rankings of America’s highly walkable cities since 2011. Miami city proper was in 2015 awarded as the 5th most walkable city in the United States. This implies that despite its population of over 300,000, the roads and neighborhoods in Miami are friendly to pedestrians of different ages. So ensure you pack your sneakers before moving to Miami.
18. You can enjoy Miami Cheaply
Miami doesn’t boast an affordably cheap reputation for entertainment and nightlife. However, Miami offers its share of free things to do as well as fun all over the city. Find art walks, free movies at the New World Symphony, and free days at the Perez Art Museum in Miami. That will help you to reduce some of your entertainment costs.
19. Dress for Success
Miami is not a casual type of city unless you are hitting the gym or at the beach. Residents don’t dress down in sneakers and jeans to hit the street in Miami. When going out in town for the night, bling, strappy sandals, and high fashion are the norm.
20. Miami and Miami Beach are Different
People usually use the terms Miami and Miami Beach interchangeably as if they were the same thing. However, they are different municipalities that have different governments and mayors.
Conclusion
Moving to Miami then residing there, there is never a dull moment. Some important information that you’ve accessed in this article should help guide you on the Miami Lifestyle.
If you are moving within Miami, our Miami moving companies will take you wherever you go.
If you found the above Miami info interesting and ready to move cross country to the city, our trusted long-distance movers are here to help.
