So, you’re curious about living in Florida? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Florida.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Florida matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Florida is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Florida
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Florida is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Florida:
- Moving to Florida is a great idea if you’re looking for an adventure. Sure, there are plenty of bugs and the heat can get intense – but it’s also home to beautiful beaches and relaxation opportunities galore!
- The climate here creates more perfect weather conditions than any other state in America (and we have close to 365 days of sun per year!). So while some people may not love our humidity or hurricanes, they’ll be happy with all that sunshine day after day! You won’t need heavy coats or boots; sandals will do just fine since there really isn’t much difference between summer and fall temperatures down here. Plus: No harsh winters means outdoor activities year-round.
- Cost of living is relatively low for a place with so much to offer, plus you won’t have to pay state income taxes living here.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Florida:
- There are a lot of bugs! So be prepared to help your kids protect themselves from mosquitos, ticks and other pests.
- There’s also too much sun for some people who aren’t used to it (and can lead to skin cancer).
- It might take time getting accustomed to the humidity – which is different than many states in the Northeast or Midwest. You’ll need an air conditioner year-round as well! The heat here sometimes goes up into the triple digits so make sure you have access to cold water all day long.
- And then there’s hurricane season… no one likes when those come around every year.
Read More: Is Florida a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Florida
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Florida? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Florida!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Florida.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Florida:
- Cape Coral
- Clearwater
- Fort Lauderdale
- Gainesville
- Hollywood
- Jacksonville
- Lakeland
- Miami
- Nocatee
- Orlando
- Pinecrest
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- West Palm Beach
Read More: Best Places to Live in Florida
Checklist for Moving to Florida
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Florida. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Florida.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Florida:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Florida driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Florida
- Getting Florida car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Florida and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Florida.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Florida and your previous home state.
Visit your Florida Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Florida Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Florida.
Things to Know About Living in Florida
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Florida, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Florida
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Florida ranks 29th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 100.7, meaning it’s a relatively average costing place to live.
Here is how Florida scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 106.9
- Housing: 99.6
- Utilities: 103.1
- Transportation: 101.7
- Health: 98.6
- Miscellaneous: 98.4
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Florida
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Florida from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Florida’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%, with an average local rate of 1.08% (the highest local sales tax rate is 2.5%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 7.08%.
Check with the Florida tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Florida
If you own or plan to own real estate in Florida, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Florida ranks 24th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.89%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Florida tax office for the most current tax rates.
Florida’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Florida is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Florida ranks 4th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Wholesale trade
- Finance and insurance
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Information
The top employer in Florida is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Florida
Our Florida moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Florida is Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle.
National Parks that you can visit in Florida include:
- Biscayne National Park
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Everglades National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Florida include:
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
- Learn more about the Castillo de San Marcos
- Fort Matanzas National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Florida
Florida is the 27th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Georgia and Alabama, to its south, east, and west is the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the capital of Florida?
The capital of Florida is Tallahassee.
Tallahassee is located in Leon county with a population of 181,376.
What is the population of Florida?
The population of Florida based on 2020 US Census data is 21,538,187.
What is the largest city in Florida?
The largest city in Florida is Jacksonville.
Jacksonville has a population of 907,953, and it is located in Duval County.
What is the size of Florida?
Florida is 65,758 square miles, making it the 22nd largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Florida?
The state motto of Florida is: In God we trust
What is the state bird of Florida?
The state bird of Florida is the Northern mockingbird.
What is the state flower of Florida?
The state flower of Florida is the Orange blossom.
What is the state tree of Florida?
The state tree of Florida is the Sabal Palm.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Florida?
The minimum wage in Florida is $8.65 per hour.
What is the median income in Florida?
The median annual household salary in Florida is $55,462.