With hundreds of miles of beaches, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that ‘may be’ the phrase sun n’ sand was best used to describe Florida. Known as ‘The Sunshine State’, Florida is hands down one of the most extensive and populous states of the United States.

But when you pit New York against Florida, you could consider it a battle of the heavyweights. Sure, Florida’s $1.0 trillion economy is the fourth largest of any state.

But then there’s New York with a $1.5 trillion economy too. There’s no denying that both these states don’t holdback when it comes to offering a splendid quality of life, with the best of urban comforts and luxuries.

While both these states have certain similarities, it’s the distinctions you should be aware of when you’re moving from New York to Florida.

So read on to know what you can expect when switching between these states!

Things To Know Before Moving From New York to Florida

1. Weather

Ranging between humid subtropical and true tropical climate, Florida is not blessed with a lot of rain. Winters are mild and subject to short spells. Summer is really muggy and frequented with thunderstorms. Florida sees a lot of hurricanes in summer and in early autumn.

If you ignore the hurricanes for a brief moment, then can you imagine, you will be actually trading off cold blustery winters of New York with literally year long sunshine and beach weather. Can you imagine? The salty beachy air is mesmerising and so is the lure of all things outdoorsy and all the innumerable attractions there is in Florida.

Well, of course it gets hot, humid and really muggy. It’s the beach and that’s how summer gets near the beach. But then again, that’s just the summers. The winters are beautifully pleasant and breezy, it’s fabulous. A year round supply of tank tops, t-shirts and flip-flops is probably what you will only need!

In the summers, the highest temperature will hardly exceed 37.8 degrees, the average highs in New York remain comfortably around 30 degree celsius.

In Florida, the winters will see lows in the range of 4 to -1 degrees. And it rarely receives any measurable snow. New York on the other hand witnesses frigidity in the form of -5 degree celsius too.

2. Population Profile

The population of Florida in 2020 was 21, 733,312 which was an increment by 1.19% from 2019. Florida is in the top ten list of fastest growing American states. Although Florida is the same size as New York, the population of New York is much lesser and its population is somewhere around 19 million.

European Americans are the majority ethnic groups with almost 65% identifying as Whites in Florida. Almost 17% are African Americans (includes Afro Caribbean) and then almost 25% are Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

The population of New York has continued to reduce and Florida’s risen in the wake of Covid-19, because people have been moving out as it has become an expensive place to stay, with rising rental costs. Florida has been offering them wide expanses, sunshine all the year round, affordable housing and no income tax either.

Florida has the largest non-Hispanic White and one the largest African-American population in the country. If you were to look at the ethnic groups that reside in Florida, then Cubans make the biggest chunk as the single largest ethnic group in the state.

New York too showed the largest percentage of non-Hispanic too. Both New York and Florida are ethnically diverse because of the sea of immigrants coming into these places and making it their own.

3. Language And Culture

Florida and New York are both amazingly diverse and cultural hotspots. But they have very different personalities. New York is eclectic and electric. Its mix of art, culture, theatre, dance, music and cuisines, things that define the personalities of these places.

Immigrants have been coming into both Florida and New York for ages. These have been places of great diversity and the multi-ethnic fabric of both these places have made them who they are today.

Both states have a majority non-Hispanic whites residing here. English is the most spoken language in New York and you will find Spanish as a common language spoken at homes in Brooklyn, Bronx, and North Manhattan and Queens.

Similarly, Spanish and English are also the two major languages in Florida. But you also have a large population speaking French-Creole, other than English and Spanish.

4. Education

If you are moving from New York To Florida and wondering if you will be in the paucity of good educational institutes, you may be mistaken. Florida has ten public universities and a liberal arts college that comprise the State University of Florida.

You can also choose from 28 public community colleges and state colleges. There are hundreds of private schools that dot the state and you are never too far away from a good education. You would be happy to know that Florida ranks 3rd in the overall education ranking in the country.

If you were to attend a Florida public state university or public community college, then you could be eligible for Florida Grants your Education Free Money. It is a wonderful scheme for undergraduate kids as a financial aid to them.

Of course, there is no beating New York. It is almost known as the best student city. It has world class universities and you can pursue your studies in everything from financial investments, accounting, management and the newest upcoming craze in STEM fields like data analysis, biotechnology and enterprise risk management.

But moving from New York to Florida doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to pursue your dream career. As mentioned above, Florida’s education system has quite a lot to offer.

5. Economy And Employment Opportunities

Of course, New York is considered to be the seat of finance because of the Wall Street Journal’s towering presence and metaphorical evidence in terms of what drives the world. Home to the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, Manhattan has been the centre of banking, finance and communication for decades now.

When you think of Manhattan, all you can imagine are sharp, suited people in their corner offices or on the phone, making life changing conversations or taking decisions that affect economies everywhere. Astute, focussed and intelligent, you wouldn’t think any other way when you imagine how the world looks at New York’s workforce and more often than not, that is alluring.

The city, of course is the centre for a thriving mass media faculty, be it the arts, dramatics or music, New York has a very cognitive culture.

But Florida is not far behind. So if you are leaving the busy scene of New York and moving to Florida, your motivation needn’t take a backseat. Yes, tourism drives Florida majorly, but there are other fields such as international trade, agriculture, aerospace, aviation and the life sciences that are also driving the growth of the economy in the Sunshine State.

Florida is the fourth largest economy in the country and that should be enough to make you feel just as charged up as you felt in New York. Florida is the leader in the aerospace industry and a major hub in the life sciences.

Home to some of the world’s best pharma and medical equipment industries and large financial industries, Florida gives you the freedom of life and lifestyle that you can design as per your wishes. It is just as career oriented, giving you plenty of opportunities to grow and flourish.

6. Purchasing A House

In Florida, purchasing your dream beachside home won’t really burn a hole in your pocket. . Even though it is near the sea and is really a major tourism hub, the cost of housing in FLorida is still affordable.

To give you a number, the median home value in Florida is around $245,000 approximately. Now isn’t that much better compared to the hefty $355,000 median home value of New York?

7. Renting A House

In spite of being one of the favourite destinations for tourism for people from all over the world, housing in Florida is still affordable. With the average cost of living 1% lower than the national average, Florida has been attracting people to come and plant their roots for a very long time now, especially now in the wake of the pandemic.

The average cost of renting a home in Florida is about $1021 or so, as compared to New York where the rent can be as high as $2,500 per month or even more.

8. Utility Bills

Of course, New York is expensive. It is the country’s most expensive state after all. So in New York, the good thing is water is usually included in your rented apartments, but when it comes to electricity, gas and internet service, they will all be added to your super high housing expenses.

While the housing may be affordable, Florida is a little steep when it comes to energy prices.

Florida is 13% higher than the national average wherein residents could be paying up to $125 for monthly electricity. Cumulatively, you could be paying up to $455 approximately for a combined usage of electricity, natural gas, water, cable TV, internet and trash and recycling removal.

9. Taxes

While Florida may not have income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax, the state does have sales and property tax and those could be substantial. And yet it is one of the lowest tax paying places in the country and that is very attractive.

Whereas in New York, you pay all three taxes: sales tax, income tax and property tax. It also imposes an estate tax, so if you were to look at it, New York does go heavy on your pockets.

10. Crime Rates

Due to the fair amount of poverty and the lax gun laws in Florida, crime has seen a surge around these parts of the country. Florida does have high rates of both violent and property crime, which is unfortunately higher than the national average.

Sadly, Florida ranks 3rd in the dangerous cities in America list and that is not good news for those residing there or for those planning to move there. Places like Pahokee, Leesburg and North Miami are some of the places you may want to avoid if you considered moving to these parts of the state.

Economic hardships that have been aggravated by the pandemic are causing a rise in crime and crime rates in New York to almost 112%. That’s huge and this kind of gun shootings have not been seen in years. The only assurance probably is that the overall rate of Crime in New York has remained stable and hopefully as the pandemic starts to get under control, even these violent crimes will come down.

11. Getting Around

So if you have already lived in New York, you are probably used to mass transits, which are best connected to everywhere that you need or want to be in the city. The bus is the cheapest and obviously the inexpensive way of getting around in New York, but not necessarily the quickest.

Megabus, Boltbus, and Greyhound are some of the bus companies that can take you anywhere in Manhattan. The quickest way to get around though would be by subways. Fare for most riders on subways and local, limited and Select Bus Service buses would be around $2.75.

Florida as a state by itself needs you to have a car. You cannot really compare the mass commuting or transportation facilities that exist in New York. If you live in a major city in Florida, then you might be able to get around by a bus or bike.

Florida also has a number of regional airports, making flying an easier option. Florida also has four major interstate highways. You can rent a car, get a taxi, use Uber or even Lyft to get around. Biking is a great option in many places and so is the coach.

See also: Moving to Florida – Relocation Guide

Popular Cities To Live In Florida

1. Orlando

Home to Disney World and Universal and a dozen other theme parks, Orlando sounds almost magical for all its attractions, nightlife, warm weather and golf courses, and offers experiences like nowhere else. It is one of the world’s most visited family destinations.

While Disney World and Universal do hog the limelight when it comes to tourist priorities, there is a lot more that can keep the visitors involved, engaged, engrossed and still craving for more.

Living in America’s most popular destinations will definitely have a lot of perks. Orlando has been named as one of the best places to live in the United States too.

Median home value: $277,218
Average market rent: $1,388/month

Must Read: Moving to Orlando FL

2. Jacksonville

Strategically positioned along the Atlantic Ocean in northeast Florida, Jacksonville has become a natural paradise for affordable yet luxurious tourism. The city is the focus of transportation and is an important commercial centre.

It has one of the busiest international airports in the state and is a hub for regional roads and railways. Insurance, healthcare, banking, shipbuilding, tourism and fishing drive its economy. It is one of the best places to live in Florida.

Dotted with restaurants and green parks, it’s a beautiful city to raise a family, with its suburban, neighbourhood feels. Jacksonville is also known for its miles of pristine beaches and boasts of natural beauty.

Famously dubbed as the ‘River City by the Sea’, Jacksonville is also home to the largest urban park system in the nation, with 10 state and national parks.

Median home value: :$240,000
Average market rent: $1,379./month

See also: Moving to Jacksonville FL

3. Sarasota

A city that can boast of a vibrant art and culture scene, amazing restaurants, shopping and beautiful beaches, Sarasota is a popular destination for people to move when they are thinking of moving to Florida.

Miles of sun kissed sandy beaches welcome you to this beautiful place with a rich cultural heritage, a lot of activities to do and attractions to see. Although Sarasota is frequented by hurricanes, it is still one of the pleasant cities to live from December to February.

Home to one of the finest downtowns in Florida, Sarasota has seen a major economic shift that has been prospering lately.

Median home value: $305,000
Average market rent: $1,445/month

See also: Moving to Sarasota FL

FAQs

How Much Does It Cost To Move From New York to Florida?

Of course there are some serious advantages to moving to Florida in the wake of the pandemic. Low taxes, lower cost of living and no state income tax, make it a great place to move.

But moving is expensive. Moving is chaotic and stressful and while you may always choose to do things on your own, the average cost of moving from New York to Florida will be anywhere between $3,000 to $6,000.

So if you are, say, taking the help of a professional moving company, like Allied Van Lines, the average cost could be around $3,000 approximately.

See also: Affordable Movers for Long Distance Relocation | Moving Cost Calculator

Is It Worth Moving To Florida from New York?

Well, if you have decided to move, then you already know the reasons why you are moving. And if you are trying to make up your mind, then while culturally and socially what attracts you to New York may be absent in Florida, the move could very well make sense financially.

After all, both these states have different personalities altogether. Socially, Florida is just as vibrant, beautiful, entertaining and outdoorsy. More importantly though, the Sunshine State is a wonderful place to raise your family, plant your roots and live a good quality of life.

So, yes, it is a great decision to move to Florida.

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