Miami is one of the most desirable moving destinations in the country. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive cities to live in. Therefore, before you start looking for Miami movers, you need to make sure that you can afford to live in this gorgeous city. To help you with your task, Best Movers in Florida prepared a list of 2022 Miami living costs. Take a look and see what you can expect after moving to Miami.
Miami is one of the most expensive cities in the country
Looking at the list of the most expensive big cities in the US, we find that Miami is ranked number ten. It is the only city in Florida that is ranked in the top ten of this list. That is why anyone who plans to move here will probably feel an increase in the overall living costs. Only New York City, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Boston, Washington D.C., and several other cities in California are more expensive than Miami. So, unless you are coming from one of these cities, you need to prepare well and ensure your monthly wage can support your life in Miami. Here are the ten most expensive cities in the US:
- New York City, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- Boston, MA
- Washington, D.C.
- Oakland, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
Miami is great but not cheap
Not only that Miami is one of the most expensive cities in the country – it is among the 0.8% of most expensive cities in the world. The good thing is that it is also among the best cities to live in the world as well as in the US. Another good thing is the average salary in Miami is $4300, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1,5 months. So, before you start searching for Miami movers, you need to find a good and well-paid job, which shouldn’t be a problem.
Overall 2022 Miami living costs
Now, let’s take a look at the Miami living costs. For one person, with rent, the average cost of living in Miami is $2729. For a family of four, the average cost of living is $6028. If we exclude the rent, the average cost of living in Miami, for one person, is $894. For a family of four, if we exclude rent expenses, the average cost of living is $2861. Rent and utilities for one person are around $1835 on average. And for a family of four, around $3168. The average food cost for one person in Miami is somewhere around $609. For a family of four – $1596.
When we talk about the average cost of living in Miami, we also need to include transportation costs, which can largely vary depending on whether you are using your own vehicle or public transportation. Still, for one person, on average, transportation costs are $142 while a family of four can expect to spend somewhere around $362 per month on transportation. Naturally, because these are only average numbers you cannot rely on them completely. Your lifestyle can be completely different than the average person’s. Nevertheless, it can be a good indication of how much one city is expensive. Especially if you compare those numbers with numbers in your town. So, before you start searching for residential movers in Miami, look at the living costs in Miami in more detail.
Some neighborhoods are cheaper than others
Be aware that the numbers we show you refer to the city of Miami in general. There are parts of the city and neighborhoods that are cheaper than others. So, if you move to Miami and you find that it is too expensive for your taste, you can always hire some good and reliable local movers in Miami and relocate to a more affordable neighborhood. Here are the most affordable neighborhoods in Miami
- Brownsville
- Gladeview
- Pinewood Park
- El Portal
- Miami Shores
- Hammocks
- Hialeah Acres
- Little Haiti
- Little Havana
- Coconut Grove
Safest neighborhoods in Miami
Be aware though, the cheapest neighborhoods in Miami have safety issues. There is a surge in crime rates in all of the country as well as in Miami. So, before you actually start searching for moving services in Florida to help you relocate to one of these cheap neighborhoods. Make sure that you research them well. You do not want to organize a complicated move, and pay a lot of money for it only to realize that you need to do it all again because you didn’t do your research on time. The safest neighborhoods in Miami are:
- Key Biscayne
- Coral Gables
- Pinecrest
- Coconut Grove
- Kendall
- Brickell
- Palmetto Bay
- Bal Harbour
- Bay Harbor Islands
Food costs in Miami
Food costs are one of the most important factors that you need to consider before moving to a new place. And, when you are moving to Miami it is one of the most important factors because the food here is not cheap. Of course, your expenses will vary depending on whether you are used to eating out or you are more into prepping your food at home. If you are eating in restaurants, a lunch menu in a mid-range restaurant will cost you around $15. A dinner for two will be around $75. And a fast food meal in McDonald’s or another similar fast food chain will be around $8.94. A 16 fl oz beer in a local pub in Miami is $5.96 on average. And a cappuccino $4.80. A 16.9 fl oz Pepsi or Coca-Cola will cost you around $2.14.
Groceries and other items
Not only that, preparing your food at home is healthier but it is more affordable as well. Unfortunately, when living in Miami groceries will be a significant item in your monthly budget as well. For example, 1 qt of milk costs $1.14. 1.1 lb bread costs $3.12. 2.2 lb of rice costs $4.34. A dozen eggs are $3.82. 2.2 lb of boneless chicken breasts costs $15.4, 2.2 lb round steak costs $15.1, and 2.2 lb of bananas will cost you around $1.92. While 2.2 lb of potato will be around $2.46. Of course, when you go shopping, you have other items to buy except food. If you are a smoker, for example, a pack of cigarettes in Miami will cost you $7.98. The average hair shampoo is somewhere around $5.67. 4 rolls of toilet paper $4.64. And a tube of toothpaste for $3.5.
Housing costs in Miami
Besides food, housing costs are the most important thing that you need to consider before hiring interstate movers Florida and moving to Miami. And, of course, the best thing is to buy a home and avoid monthly rent. Unfortunately, most people cannot afford to buy a property so renting a home remains their only option. And as far as rents are concerned, Miami is also considered expensive. For example, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center (430 ft2) is $2065. The average rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center (860 ft2) is $4107. In cheaper neighborhoods, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment (430 ft2) is $1555 and for a 3-bedroom apartment is $2634. Of course, rent costs are not the only factor that you need to consider when thinking about your housing cost. You also need to think about utilities.
Utility costs and internet
When it comes to utilities, in Miami, for one person, the utility bill for electricity, heating, water, and gas is $109 on average. For families, an average utility bill is on average $170. Additionally, you also need to factor in your internet plan, which is around $70 for an unlimited 50 Mbps internet.
Home prices and mortgage rates in Miami
If you are planning to buy a home in Miami, you should know that Miami is not as expensive as other big cities like Los Angeles and New York City. Still, there are many other cheaper places as well. In 2022 the median home value in Miami was $585,000. It is a 30% increase compared to 2021. Per square foot, prices in Miami are $411. The mortgage interest rate for 20 years is 5.38%.
Transportation costs in Miami
Another important thing that you need to take into consideration before moving to Miami is transportation. As we already mentioned, the average transportation costs for one person in Miami are $142 while a family of four can expect to spend somewhere around $362. Still, it mostly depends on your habits. If you are using your car, you will mostly depend on gas prices. And an average gas price in Miami in September 2022 is $3.375 for regular and $4.099 for premium. If you are using public transportation, a local transport one-way ticket costs $2.52. On the other hand, a monthly ticket for local transport costs $118. A 5-mile taxi ride in Miami costs $17.2.
Miami childcare costs
If you have kids, you also need to factor in childcare. Of course, how much it will cost you depends on how many kids you have and how old your kids are. For example, a private full-day preschool (or Kindergarten), for one child per month in Miami costs around $966.67. If you have primary school kids, one year for one kid will cost you around $20,250.
Clothes
Clothes are another thing that you need to consider when thinking about Miami’s living costs. For a pair of jeans, you will need to pay around $47.57. A summer dress in H&M or Zara is usually around $36.40. A pair of Nike mid-range running shoes in Miami costs $83.12. While a pair of leather business shoes will be around $110.
Having fun in Miami is not cheap
Life is not only about going to work, eating, and paying bills. You also need to relax and have fun occasionally. Especially if you are living in Miami. So for example, a cinema ticket for one person costs around $14.50, a monthly gym membership for around $40, and a to rent a tennis court for one hour for around $16.
Other expenses that you need to think about before moving to Miami
There are other things that are often disregarded when thinking about Miami living costs. So for instance, a simple haircut at a local hairdresser will be around $19.2. A visit to a doctor will cost you nearly $100.
The costs of opening a business in Miami
If you are thinking about moving your business to Miami as well, know that it will not be easy but you can expect a lot of success because this city is great for business. When it comes to costs, when opening a business in Miami the average cost is somewhere in the range of $400 to $3,000. $400 will be enough o cover the registration and other important paperwork, while other expenses will depend on the size of your business as well as the industry you are in, ownership structure, and taxes. Therefore, make sure that you do your calculations well before you actually call commercial movers in Miami to help you move your business.
Avoid high moving costs when moving to Miami
If you decided to move to Miami despite the high living costs, you need to know how to do it properly and avoid high moving costs. And the most important thing that you need to do is to make a moving plan. Once you plan the whole thing, start with decluttering. The weight of your moving inventory is the most important factor a moving company will consider when calculating your moving costs. If you remove items that you rarely use and lighten your inventory, the price of your move will be lower. You also want to avoid hiring full moving services. Even though this is the most convenient way to move, it can be very expensive. So pack your items, disassemble your furniture, and handle everything else that you can on your own. Then, simply find a reliable moving company and let them handle the transport.
Those are the 2022 Miami living costs. Hopefully, this will help you decide whether moving to this city is the right thing for you your not.
