Miami guide

City guide · Miami area

Moving to Miami

Miami is warm all year, has no state income tax, and is one of the most expensive places to rent in the U.S., with a median one-bedroom asking rent of about $2,500 a month. Most residents drive, but downtown and Brickell are served by Metrorail and the free Metromover. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and it shapes everything from insurance to where you live.

First time here? Moving to Miami? Start here →

Updated October 21, 2026 · Every number links to its source at the bottom of the page

1-bedroom rent~$2,500median asking rent, Sept 2026
State income taxNoneFlorida has no personal income tax
Sales tax7%6% state + 1% Miami-Dade
Hurricane seasonJun 1–Nov 30peak August–October

What do you want to know about Miami?

What are the key facts about Miami? What makes Miami different? How expensive is it to live in Miami? What should you know before renting? How do you get around Miami? What is the weather like? What is the job market like? Where do newcomers live? Quick answers to common questions All in-depth Miami articles

What are the key facts about Miami?

FactMiami
Median 1-bedroom asking rent$2,500 (Zumper, September 2026)
State income taxNone
Sales tax7%
Minimum wage$15/hour (since September 30, 2026)
Living wage, 1 adult$25.98/hour (MIT, Miami-Dade County)
Metrorail and Metrobus fare$2.25, rising to $2.75 on January 1, 2027
MetromoverFree
January average high / lowAbout 76°F / 61°F
August average high / lowAbout 91°F / 78°F
Hurricane seasonJune 1 to November 30

What makes Miami different?

A city of many cities

Miami Beach, Coral Gables and dozens of other places in Miami-Dade County are separate cities, each with its own rules and character. Where you live affects your commute, your flood risk and your daily life.

How expensive is it to live in Miami?

Expensive for rent, cheaper for taxes. MIT estimates a single adult in Miami-Dade County needs about $54,000 a year before taxes ($25.98 an hour) to cover a basic budget, close to Chicago’s $52,900 and far below Manhattan’s $79,500. Housing is the biggest cost, and Miami budgets also need more for transportation and insurance than most cities, because most people drive and hurricane risk raises insurance costs.

What taxes will you pay in Miami?

  • No state income tax. Florida doesn’t tax wages, so you pay only federal income tax.
  • Sales tax of 7%: 6% state plus 1% Miami-Dade County.
  • Property taxes if you buy a home. Renters pay them indirectly through rent.

Cash to move in: about $5,113 for a renter without a car (first month’s rent, a one-month deposit and a month of transit). See how Miami compares on move-in costs with the other cities we cover.

Go deeper

Cost of livingHow much does it cost to live in Miami?What it costs to live in Miami: MIT's basic monthly budget for a single adult, rent, taxes, car insurance and transit, typical salaries, and how Miami compares with New York and Chicago.Updated Oct 23, 2026Cost of livingDo you need a car in Miami?Most Miami newcomers end up driving, but Downtown and Brickell work car-free. Here's what a car really costs, Florida license and registration rules, and the best transit alternatives.Updated Oct 20, 2026

What should you know before renting in Miami?

Miami rents are among the highest in the country, though they have been easing. Zumper put the median one-bedroom asking rent at $2,500 in September 2026, down 1.6% from a year earlier, and ranked Miami sixth-most expensive among U.S. cities. A wave of new apartment buildings has given renters more choice.

Florida law doesn’t cap security deposits, so landlords often ask for first month’s rent, last month’s rent and a deposit up front. Landlords must hold deposits according to state rules and either return them within 15 days of move-out or send written notice of any claim within 30 days. Ask about renters insurance, hurricane shutters or impact windows, flood risk and parking before you sign.

Go deeper

RentingHow does renting an apartment in Miami work?How renting in Miami works: what apartments cost by neighborhood, what you pay up front, Florida's security deposit and flood disclosure rules, and what rights renters have under state law.Updated Oct 22, 2026

Browse Miami apartment buildings

Our free sister site, MiamiApartmentBuildings.com, lists 157 apartment buildings in Miami, with the year built, size, pet policy and amenities for each. Pick a neighborhood to see its buildings.

Some of the largest buildings in the directory

Downtown MiamiDowntown 5th1,042 units · 52 floors · built 2021BrickellPanorama Tower821 units · 81 floors · built 2018Edgewater / MidtownAMLI Midtown Miami719 units · 14 floors · built 2020OvertownAtlantic Square616 units · 36 floors · built 2025

See all 15 neighborhoods and 157 buildings on MiamiApartmentBuildings.com →

How do you get around Miami?

Most Miami residents drive, but you can live without a car in and around downtown and Brickell.

  • Metrorail: an elevated train line from the north and west suburbs through downtown and Brickell to the south. $2.25 a ride, rising to $2.75 on January 1, 2027.
  • Metromover: a free, automated people mover looping through Downtown, Brickell and Omni.
  • Metrobus: the county bus network, same fare as Metrorail, with free bus-to-bus transfers for three hours.
  • Brightline and Tri-Rail: regional trains north to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and, on Brightline, Orlando.

Go deeper

Getting aroundHow does public transit work in Miami?How Miami's public transit works: Metrorail, Metrobus and the free Metromover, what a ride costs before and after the 2027 fare increase, how to pay, and how to reach the airport and Fort Lauderdale.Updated Oct 21, 2026Cost of livingDo you need a car in Miami?Most Miami newcomers end up driving, but Downtown and Brickell work car-free. Here's what a car really costs, Florida license and registration rules, and the best transit alternatives.Updated Oct 20, 2026

What is the weather like in Miami?

Warm all year, with a hot, humid, rainy season from about May to October and a dry, pleasant winter. These are approximate averages from the National Weather Service’s 1991–2020 normals for Miami International Airport:

MonthAverage highAverage low
January76°F61°F
April84°F70°F
July91°F78°F
October86°F74°F

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity typically from August through October. Know your evacuation zone, keep supplies ready, and check whether your renters insurance covers flood damage (standard policies usually don’t).

Go deeper

WeatherWhat is the weather like in Miami?Miami is warm all year, with a hot, rainy May-October season and a mild, dry winter. See monthly highs, lows and rain, plus hurricane, heat and flood tips for newcomers.Updated Oct 21, 2026

What is the job market like in Miami?

Miami’s economy is built on trade with Latin America, tourism and hospitality, finance, real estate and health care, with a growing tech and finance presence. Typical annual salaries in the Miami area, from Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled by MIT:

Job typeTypical salary
Management$128,110
Legal$112,070
Computer and math$104,030
Healthcare practitioners$99,500
Business and finance$87,940
Education$57,090
Sales$52,160
Office and administrative support$47,360
Food preparation and serving$36,070

Go deeper

JobsWhat is the Miami job market like?Miami-Dade unemployment is just 2.7%, but pay trails the U.S. average. See which industries are hiring, the biggest employers, typical wages, why Spanish helps and how to job hunt.Updated Oct 28, 2026

Where do newcomers live in Miami?

  • Brickell and Downtown: high-rise living in the financial district, served by Metrorail and the free Metromover. The easiest place to live without a car.
  • Edgewater and Midtown: newer towers along Biscayne Bay, north of downtown.
  • Wynwood: known for street art, galleries, breweries and nightlife.
  • Little Havana: the historic heart of Miami’s Cuban community, with lower rents than the bayfront.
  • Coconut Grove: leafy and walkable by the bay, with Metrorail access.
  • Coral Gables: a separate city with tree-lined streets, near the University of Miami.
  • Miami Beach: a separate city on the barrier islands; one-bedrooms averaged about $2,800 in August 2026.

Many people also look north to Fort Lauderdale, where Zumper put the median one-bedroom at $1,850 in September 2026, connected to Miami by Brightline and Tri-Rail.

Go deeper

NeighborhoodsWhat are the best Miami neighborhoods for newcomers?Where newcomers to Miami often start: car-free Brickell and Downtown, cheaper Little Havana and the Upper East Side, or suburban Doral and Kendall, with 2026 rents and safety checks.Updated Oct 21, 2026

Frequently asked questions about moving to Miami

How much is rent in Miami?

The median one-bedroom asking rent was about $2,500 a month in September 2026, according to Zumper.

Does Florida have a state income tax?

No. Florida has no personal state income tax. Miami-Dade’s sales tax is 7%.

Do you need a car in Miami?

Most residents drive. Living car-free is realistic mainly in Brickell and downtown, near Metrorail and the free Metromover.

When is hurricane season in Miami?

June 1 to November 30, with peak activity typically from August through October.

How long do you have to get a Florida driver’s license?

30 days after establishing Florida residency, and 10 days to title and register a vehicle.

What have we written about Miami so far?

JobsWhat is the Miami job market like?Miami-Dade unemployment is just 2.7%, but pay trails the U.S. average. See which industries are hiring, the biggest employers, typical wages, why Spanish helps and how to job hunt.Updated Oct 28, 2026Cost of livingHow much does it cost to live in Miami?What it costs to live in Miami: MIT's basic monthly budget for a single adult, rent, taxes, car insurance and transit, typical salaries, and how Miami compares with New York and Chicago.Updated Oct 23, 2026Moving logisticsHow do you move to Miami? A step-by-step checklistA phase-by-phase Miami moving checklist: budget and movers at 8 weeks, apartment, FPL, internet and insurance at 4 weeks, then your Florida license, car registration and hurricane prep after you arrive.Updated Oct 23, 2026RentingHow does renting an apartment in Miami work?How renting in Miami works: what apartments cost by neighborhood, what you pay up front, Florida's security deposit and flood disclosure rules, and what rights renters have under state law.Updated Oct 22, 2026Getting aroundHow does public transit work in Miami?How Miami's public transit works: Metrorail, Metrobus and the free Metromover, what a ride costs before and after the 2027 fare increase, how to pay, and how to reach the airport and Fort Lauderdale.Updated Oct 21, 2026NeighborhoodsWhat are the best Miami neighborhoods for newcomers?Where newcomers to Miami often start: car-free Brickell and Downtown, cheaper Little Havana and the Upper East Side, or suburban Doral and Kendall, with 2026 rents and safety checks.Updated Oct 21, 2026WeatherWhat is the weather like in Miami?Miami is warm all year, with a hot, rainy May-October season and a mild, dry winter. See monthly highs, lows and rain, plus hurricane, heat and flood tips for newcomers.Updated Oct 21, 2026Moving logisticsWhat should you do in your first 30 days in Miami?A week-by-week plan for new Miami residents: Florida license and car registration deadlines, your hurricane zone, county alerts, transit, a free library card, a doctor and ways to meet people.Updated Oct 21, 2026Cost of livingDo you need a car in Miami?Most Miami newcomers end up driving, but Downtown and Brickell work car-free. Here's what a car really costs, Florida license and registration rules, and the best transit alternatives.Updated Oct 20, 2026

Sources

Scroll to Top