Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Florida

You consider moving to Florida but want to get some additional information on overall quality of life, housing, living costs, entertainment, safety, public infrastructure and much more before making your final decision?

Great! Stick with me since I will show you the pros and cons of living in Florida in the following chapters.

Living in Florida – Overview

Advantages of Living in Florida

1. People in Florida can enjoy hot summers
2. You can enjoy many hours of sun
3. Mild winters in Florida may be attractive to many people out there
4. Florida is located at the coast
5. Many different water sports to choose from in Florida
6. You can live a rather relaxed lifestyle in Florida
7. Florida attracts many beautiful people
8. Many fancy shopping opportunities in Florida
9. Decent supply of material goods in Florida
10. Good public transport in the big cities of Florida
11. You will find decent medical infrastructure in the metropolitan areas of Florida
12. Decent universities in the big cities of Florida
13. You can find solid schools for your kids in the urban parts of Florida
14. Many recreational spaces in Florida
15. Florida is a pretty popular state
16. Your friends may envy and admire you for your plans of moving to Florida
17. You can meet many tourists in Florida
18. Property prices in Florida are pretty low outside the big cities
19. Housing shortage is not a big problem in many parts of Florida
20. Rents are still affordable in the rural parts of Florida
21. You will find many big cities in Florida
22. Florida provides a solid mix of city and village life
23. The big cities in Florida offer decent nightlife
24. Lots of entertainment in the big cities of Florida
25. People in Florida are often friendly and open to new things
26. Florida is a pretty tolerant state
27. Easy to socialize in the urban parts of Florida
28. Florida is a rather pet-friendly state
29. You can get around by bicycle in an efficient manner in many parts of Florida
30. You will find most things you need close to your home in the urban parts of Florida
31. The big cities of Florida are well-connected to the world
32. Decent internet connection for most people in Florida
33. Traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Florida
34. Relatively easy to find a parking lot in the rural parts of Florida
35. Many solid sports teams in Florida
36. Living in Florida may be great for young people
37. Florida may be an interesting place to stay for students
38. You can meet many interesting people in Florida
39. Relatively easy to build a strong business network in the big cities of Florida
40. Florida may be an attractive place to retire
41. Cultural diversity is great in the big cities of Florida
42. Easy to travel to and from Florida
43. You may be able to meet many celebrities in the urban parts of Florida

People in Florida can enjoy hot summers

One benefit of moving to Florida is that you can enjoy hot summers and can spend lots of time outdoors.

Thus, if you love hot weather, Florida may be much better for you compared to moving to Chicago or other cooler places.

You can enjoy many hours of sun

Not only will you be able to enjoy hot summers, but you will also be able to live in a pretty sunny environment and will be able to get tanned in a pretty easy manner for which your friends from other states will often admire you.

Mild winters in Florida may be attractive to many people out there

While people in Florida can experience hot and sunny summers, also winters are pretty mild and you will barely have to deal with cold weather or even snow but will be able to spend time at the beach even during winter months.

Florida is located at the coast

Since Florida has a broad coastline, you will also be able to relax at the beach on a regular basis and this can help you reload your batteries so you can perform at work much better compared to people living in Colorado or other regions pretty far away from the coast.

Many different water sports to choose from in Florida

Since you will have access to the beach on a daily basis, you can also go surfing or do many other water sports and this may help you stay fit and vital while people who don’t have beach access will often rather stay at home and may not get enough exercise in a natural manner so they may suffer from obesity sooner or later.

You can live a rather relaxed lifestyle in Florida

You should also know that people in Florida are usually pretty laid-back and are not in the same hurry and not as career-focused but rather want to enjoy their lives and may therefore also have more time to help you out on various occasions of daily life.

Florida attracts many beautiful people

Another upside to moving to Florida is that you will also be able to meet many beautiful people.

In fact, this state really attracts beauties from all over the world and you may therefore be able to hook up with many hot people and can just have a great time in this region.

Many fancy shopping opportunities in Florida

As long as you live in the urban parts of Florida, you will also find fancy boutiques and more than enough other solid shopping opportunities so you can follow fashion trends in a proper manner and can always stay up-to-date with latest developments.

Decent supply of material goods in Florida

You also don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods in Florida since public infrastructure is pretty decent and you will find more than enough grocery stores and other important things of daily life pretty close to your home.

Good public transport in the big cities of Florida

Another advantage of moving to Florida is that you will also find really decent public transport, at least in the big cities and you may therefore not even need a car to get around and can rather get around by bus or other means of public transport which can not only save you money but can also be great for our environment in the long run.

You will find decent medical infrastructure in the metropolitan areas of Florida

You will also find many great doctors and hospitals in the big metropolitan regions of Florida and as long as you have enough money, you can be sure to get one of the best medical treatments possible so you can recover from your health condition as quickly as possible.

Decent universities in the big cities of Florida

There are also many solid colleges in the big urban areas of Florida and you can therefore get good education which can help you find a fancy job in the corporate world later on.

You can find solid schools for your kids in the urban parts of Florida

Not only will you find decent universities, but you will also find decent schools for your kids in many regions of Florida and can make sure that your kids get a good start in life and learn everything they need so they have all the tools needed to succeed in life later on.

Many recreational spaces in Florida

Apart from the beach, you will also have many parks and other recreational spaces in the Florida region where you can relax and unplug from your stressful life so you can reload your batteries for the challenging things that may still lie ahead of you.

Florida is a pretty popular state

You should also know that Florida is a pretty popular state and well-known all over the world. In fact, almost everyone knows Florida on a global scale and it also has a pretty decent reputation so you can be really proud by talking about your home when you travel the world.

Your friends may envy and admire you for your plans of moving to Florida

Not only is Florida pretty popular all over the world, but it is also a rather popular state within the US and your loved ones in different states may envy or even really admire you for your plans of moving to Florida and may secretly with to change places with you so you can get a pretty high social standing among your family and friends.

You can meet many tourists in Florida

Another advantage of living in Florida is that you will also be able to meet many tourists from all over the world and this gives you the opportunity to connect with people from many different countries so you can expand your social circle quite a lot and will have many connections to people from all over the globe.

Property prices in Florida are pretty low outside the big cities

While property prices may be pretty high in Miami or some other big cities in Florida, they are rather low in the rural parts of Florida and this means that many people are still able to buy decent homes in the Florida regions without having to financially overcommit themselves.

Housing shortage is not a big problem in many parts of Florida

Apart from the big cities, also housing shortage is not a big deal in Florida yet and this means that you will find a decent place to stay rather quickly without having to search for many months as people living in L.A. or other more popular regions often have to do.

Rents are still affordable in the rural parts of Florida

You should also know that rents are still pretty low in the rural parts of Florida and this means that also in case you don’t want to buy a home, you will still find many affordable properties to rent and will not have to spend a big fraction of your income on housing in most parts of Florida.

You will find many big cities in Florida

Moving to Florida can also be great for you if you love big city life since with Jacksonville, Miami and other big metropolitan areas, you will have more than enough big cities in this region and can spend your life surrounded by skyscrapers and with many amenities that come along with living in a big city in general.

Florida provides a solid mix of city and village life

While there are many big cities in Florida, there is also lots of beautiful nature and you will therefore find a really nice mix of village and city life and in case you get stressed by vibrant city life, you may just want to make nice day trips to the rural parts of Florida and can have a great time while you can still reload your batteries for the stressful things yet to come.

The big cities in Florida offer decent nightlife

As long as you stay in the big cities of Florida, you will also find many nice bars and clubs where you can meet up with many like-minded people and can also party until the early morning so you can make many memories for a lifetime and can really enjoy your youth.

Lots of entertainment in the big cities of Florida

In general, you will also find lots of action and entertainment in the big cities of Florida and if you need adrenaline on a regular basis, moving to Florida may be much better for you compared to moving to Arkansas or other rather quiet regions.

People in Florida are often friendly and open to new things

Another upside to living in Florida is that you can also meet many friendly and open people who will often be up to new things and chances are that you will always have people to hang out with and can make many new experiences which may let you grow in character in the long run.

Florida is a pretty tolerant state

You should also know that Florida is a pretty tolerant state and this means that you will be welcome no matter where you come from and can just have a great time with many other people from all over the world since you don’t have to worry about your background at all.

Easy to socialize in the urban parts of Florida

Since you will be able to meet many open and curious people in Florida, you will also have a rather easy time making many new social connections within a rather short period of time so you don’t have to worry about getting socially isolated at all but will have more than enough company during most times of the year.

Florida is a rather pet-friendly state

Moving to Florida can also be great in case you love pets and want to spend lots of time outdoors with your dog since you will be surrounded by many other like-minded people and walking down the streets with your dog may also help you get in touch with other dog owners and you will therefore find many new people to hang out with in a completely natural manner on a daily basis.

You can get around by bicycle in an efficient manner in many parts of Florida

In many big cities of Florida, you will also find many bike lanes so you can get around by bicycle in a proper manner and may not have to rely on your car in the long run which can be great for our environment, your finances and also your fitness level.

You will find most things you need close to your home in the urban parts of Florida

Thanks to decent public infrastructure, you will also find most things of daily life pretty close to your home, especially in urban areas where you will often find grocery stores, doctor’s offices and many other things within walking distance.

The big cities of Florida are well-connected to the world

There are also many national as well as international airports in the Florida region and this makes it pretty easy for you to visit other people in different states or you can also travel the world in a pretty convenient manner since you don’t have to worry about annoying layovers much.

Decent internet connection for most people in Florida

Another benefit of living in Florida is that you will also have a pretty decent internet connection in most parts of this state and this allows you to stay up-to-date with latest developments and you can also stay in touch with people from all over the world through social media so you can maintain a big circle of friends in the long run.

Traffic is not a big problem in most parts of Florida

While traffic may be annoying in the big cities of Florida, it is still not a big problem in most rural parts of the state and you can therefore get around by car in a proper manner without getting stuck in traffic jams as people living in NYC or other big metropolitan regions often do.

Relatively easy to find a parking lot in the rural parts of Florida

Outside the big cities, you also don’t have to worry about finding a parking lot since you will find more than enough opportunities to park your car and will not have to spend as much time and money as many other people in this regard.

Many solid sports teams in Florida

You will also find many great sports teams in Florida and as long as you live in an urban area, you can watch many sports games in person on a regular basis and can really support your favorite teams in the long run.

Living in Florida may be great for young people

Since there is lots of entertainment in Florida and you will always have something to do, chances are you will never get bored in the Florida region, especially if you are young and want to have action on a regular basis since there are just more than enough exciting things to do.

Florida may be an interesting place to stay for students

Living in the urban parts of Florida can also be great for students since you will be able to meet many other students from all over the world, can enjoy decent nightlife and will also find many decent colleges so you can get a solid degree which may help you find a good job in the corporate world later on.

You can meet many interesting people in Florida

In general, since Florida is a pretty popular place all over the world, it also attracts many interesting people and by talking to those people, you can learn a lot about different lifestyles and you may be able to adapt quite a lot of valuable things for your own life.

Relatively easy to build a strong business network in the big cities of Florida

Since you will have an easy time getting in touch with many different people, you may also be able to build a really strong business network rather quickly, at least if you are a communicative type of person who is able to get in touch with people in a playful manner.

Florida may be an attractive place to retire

Since Florida offers many beautiful beaches and other recreational spaces while housing costs are still not really high outside the big cities, it may also be an attractive place to retire for many pensioners who want to enjoy great weather but don’t want to spend as much money on housing and other things as retirees in Los Angeles or other fancier places.

Cultural diversity is great in the big cities of Florida

You should also know that since Florida is attractive to people from all over the world, you will also find many different cultural influences in the big cities of Florida and can also try many delicious foods which can not only make your life pretty awesome but may also give you some ideas regarding what you want to cook at home.

Easy to travel to and from Florida

Since roads and overall public infrastructure are pretty decent, you can also get to many big cities in Florida rather quickly and may also be able to make many nice day trips to other cities in an efficient manner.

You may be able to meet many celebrities in the urban parts of Florida

Since Florida is a pretty popular state where overall quality of life is pretty decent, you may also be able to meet many celebrities in the big cities of Florida and may even be able to hang out with your idols.

As you can see, there are many reasons for moving to Florida.

However, there are still some drawbacks of living in Florida which I want to discuss for you in the following so you can get a more realistic picture of reality and will be better able to decide whether you still want to move to Florida or may want to spend your life in a different region instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Florida

1. Housing shortage is a big problem in many big cities of Florida
2. Property prices and rents are about to increase significantly
3. Florida is a pretty crowded state
4. Traffic may be annoying in the urban parts of Florida
5. You may have a hard time finding good education in the rural parts of Florida
6. Nightlife is not great outside of the big cities in Florida
7. Unemployment rate in Florida is pretty high
8. Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs
9. Crime rate in Florida is above national average
10. Florida is a pretty hot place
11. You may not be able to deal with high levels of humidity well
12. You may get fed up with warm winters in the long run
13. Public transport gets worse in the rural parts of Florida
14. Medical infrastructure in the smaller cities or villages in Florida is not great
15. The Florida lifestyle is kind of special
16. Many people in Florida are rather shallow
17. You may not be able to rely on your social contacts in Florida much
18. It is often just about the money
19. Living costs are pretty high in the urban parts of Florida
20. Beaches in Florida become increasingly crowded
21. Florida is a rather landlord-friendly state
22. Natural disasters may destroy your home in Florida sooner or later
23. Living in Florida may come along with significant financial pressure
24. Social inequality is a big problem in Florida
25. Homelessness is often present in the big cities of Florida
26. Many people consider leaving Florida
27. Lots of snakes and alligators in Florida
28. Insurance costs are often pretty high
29. Florida may be overrated

Housing shortage is a big problem in many big cities of Florida

One downside to moving to Florida is that while housing shortage is not a big problem in the rural parts of Florida, it may be a big issue in the big cities where it is often pretty hard to find a decent place to stay within a reasonable period of time while people living in Detroit or other less popular regions often have an easier time in this regard.

Property prices and rents are about to increase significantly

You should also know that while property prices in the rural parts of Florida are still rather low, they have increased significantly in the urban regions and in case this trend continues, many people may no longer be able to afford to live in Florida anymore and may have to move to cheaper regions.

Florida is a pretty crowded state

You should also be aware of the fact that population density is pretty high in Florida and this means that it is also a pretty crowded state where you may not have enough space in public to be on your own, especially in the big cities where you will often run into people on a regular basis.

Traffic may be annoying in the urban parts of Florida

While traffic is not a big problem in the rural parts of Florida, it may become annoying in the big cities since you will often get stuck in traffic jams while people in less-crowded parts of the US may not have to waste lots of time in traffic and may have more time to spend on nicer things instead.

You may have a hard time finding good education in the rural parts of Florida

Another disadvantage of moving to Florida is that you will also have a hard time finding really good education in case you live in the rural parts of the state where you will often not find great schools and colleges within many miles and you may therefore not be able to provide the best education possible for your kids.

Nightlife is not great outside of the big cities in Florida

You should also not expect to find many great bars and clubs in the Florida region outside the big cities and if you are a party person, you may just not get happy with nightlife in the rural parts of Florida in the long run.

Unemployment rate in Florida is pretty high

Another problem with moving to Florida is that unemployment rate is pretty high compared to the rest of the US and you may therefore have to worry about losing your job quite often compared to people living in San José or other regions where people often have an easier time finding a job since unemployment is not a big problem yet.

Low-qualified people often have a hard time finding decent jobs

While you may still find solid jobs if you have decent education and hold a fancy degree, you may be in a pretty poor situation in case you don’t look good on paper since it may be almost impossible for you to find and keep a decent job in the Florida region.

Crime rate in Florida is above national average

While Florida is not the unsafest region, you should still realize that crime rate is above national average and if you are a rather careful person and want to have a maximum level of safety, you may be better off living in Virginia Beach or other safer regions.

Florida is a pretty hot place

You should also keep in mind that Florida is a pretty hot place and in case you can’t stand the heat, you may be better off moving to Minneapolis or other cooler regions instead.

You may not be able to deal with high levels of humidity well

Another problem with living in Florida is that you will also have to deal with high levels of humidity and while some people are able to deal with those climatic conditions well, others just can’t stand it and you should therefore travel to Florida and spend your vacation in this place so you can get a better idea of whether you want to live under those climatic conditions for a longer period of time or not.

You may get fed up with warm winters in the long run

Since not only summers but also winters are rather warm, many people in Florida also get fed up with warm weather in the long run and if you want to experience real seasons with colder winters, you may be better off moving to Philadelphia or other cooler places.

Public transport gets worse in the rural parts of Florida

While public transport is often pretty decent in the urban regions of Florida, it soon gets worse in the rural parts and you may therefore no longer be able to get around by bus or train in a proper manner if you live off the grid and may have to rely on your car instead which may be pretty bad for our planet in the long run.

Medical infrastructure in the smaller cities or villages in Florida is not great

While there are decent hospitals and doctors in the big cities, you should also know that medical infrastructure gets worse outside the big cities and in case you live in a rural region and have to deal with a medical emergency, you may not be able to get medical assistance in time and may even lose your life due to that in case you are unlucky.

The Florida lifestyle is kind of special

You should also know that the Florida lifestyle is kind of special.

In fact, while landscape is beautiful, everything seems to be a little bit artificial and you may therefore have a hard time living your life being yourself.

Many people in Florida are rather shallow

Since there are so many beautiful people, people who are not as beautiful may also have a hard time in this region since they often don’t fit in the overall picture.

In fact, some people in Florida are pretty shallow and just care about their looks instead of inner values and if you don’t get along with this attitude, you may be better off moving to a place where looks don’t matter as much.

You may not be able to rely on your social contacts in Florida much

Since many social contacts will be pretty shallow, it is also pretty hard making really good friends in the Florida region and you may also have a hard time relying on your friends since some of them will just not be there for you during difficult periods of your life.

It is often just about the money

Another downside to living in Florida is that many people also just care about what you have and about your money instead of caring about inner values and while you might have a great time as long as you have enough money, things may change once you have spent everything since you may lose many of your social contacts rather quickly once this happens.

Living costs are pretty high in the urban parts of Florida

You should also know that living costs in Florida are rather high and if you want to go out and have drinks with your friends in one of the major cities, you will often have to spend lots of money while people in Louisville and other cheaper regions are often able to afford much more for the same budget.

Beaches in Florida become increasingly crowded

While there are many beautiful beaches in Florida, many of them still get increasingly crowded.

In fact, this is not only true for beaches but also for nature in general and if this trend continues, nature may no longer look as beautiful as in the past which may greatly adversely affect overall quality of life.

Florida is a rather landlord-friendly state

Since there is no strict rent control, Florida is also a rather landlord-friendly state and in case you don’t want to buy a home but rather want to rent for a long time, you may be in a pretty poor position as a tenant and may also have fewer rights compared to people living in Oakland or other regions with more tenant-friendly laws.

Natural disasters may destroy your home in Florida sooner or later

You should also know that hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters may destroy your home sooner or later and the risk of getting hit by one of those extreme events becomes bigger each year due to climate change.

Living in Florida may come along with significant financial pressure

If you want to live in Miami or other expensive regions of Florida, you may also have to spend lots of money on housing and many other things of daily life and you may therefore have to deal with high levels of financial pressure while people living in St. Louis or other less expensive regions don’t have to worry about money as much.

Social inequality is a big problem in Florida

You should also know that due to increasing property prices and rents, social inequality is about to get worse in the Florida region and this may lead to increasing crime rates and many other social problems in the long run.

Homelessness is often present in the big cities of Florida

You should also be aware of the fact that you will see many homeless people in the state of Florida.

Not only is this a pretty sad picture but you may also no longer feel safe walking down the streets at nighttime and this may adversely affect your overall quality of life in the long run.

Many people consider leaving Florida

Due to increasing property prices and many social problems the state of Florida has to deal with, many people also consider leaving this region and search for a less crowded place where they may be better able to raise their kids in a more peaceful manner.

Lots of snakes and alligators in Florida

Another disadvantage of living in Florida is that there are also many alligators and snakes in this region and in case you are unlucky, you may meet one of those unpleasant creatures and may even lose your life if you are not careful.

Insurance costs are often pretty high

Since Florida is at great risk of getting hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters, home insurance costs are also pretty high compared to other regions where natural disasters are not as likely.

Florida may be overrated

You should also know that while Florida has been a great place to live in for many decades, it becomes increasingly polluted and crowded and overall quality of life may therefore drop significantly in the long run and there may be better places to live for the same budget.

Top 10 Moving To Florida Pros & Cons – Summary List

Is Florida A Good Place To Live?

While moving to Florida can make sense due to the great weather and you will find many amenities of daily life in the big cities, you should also know that Florida is too hot and humid for many people and public infrastructure also gets worse in the rural parts of Florida.

In the end, it is on you to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Florida properly so you can make the best possible decision in this regard according to your individual preferences and circumstances.

Most Popular Cities To Live In Florida – Comparison

Alternative States To Live

If you no longer want to move to Florida, you may also want to have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Delaware

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Arizona

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Connecticut

Sources

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/FL

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.