Moving From New York to Florida: Your Guide to a Smooth Move

If you’re tired of the constant grind, traffic, and chilly winters in New York, a little sunshine might do you some good.

(And it seems that there are tens of thousands of people who would agree with that, considering 34,000 people got a Florida driver’s license between September 2020 and March 2021 alone, moving from–you guessed it–New York.)

Want to learn more about where people are moving to, and why? Check out our 2022 report on the state of moving.

So, what does Florida have that New York doesn’t? Why are so many people moving from New York to Florida? We’re here to lay it all out for you, from the pros and cons to packing advice, where to find the best movers, and more. Let’s get to it.

Why is it worth moving from New York to Florida?

As long-distance movers, we hear many answers when we ask people about their reasons for moving from the Big Apple to a city like Miami or even a smaller city, such as Vero Beach.

Usually, it’s the weather. Florida is nearer to the Earth’s equator and the Sun, helping it stay a comfortable temperature for most of the year. And with warmer weather, you may naturally be more inclined to do things outdoors, such as shopping, road-tripping, going to amusement parks (Orlando Studios or Disney World, anyone?), or spending time on one of Florida’s many beaches.

Florida also has a whopping 40 public colleges and universities, with multiple majors to choose from. (These schools include the University of Central Florida (UCF), University of Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida, and Florida State University--to name a few.)

You get the picture.

Florida is a great place to live, but of course, everyone is different. So, let’s compare some more pros and cons of moving from New York to Florida to help you decide if this move is the one for you.

Pros and cons of moving to Florida from New York

Below are some things to know before moving to the Sunshine State:

Benefits of living in Florida

• You don’t have to pay a penny in income taxes.Yep! You heard that right. If you live in Florida, you can keep more money in your wallet since you don’t have to worry about paying taxes to the state.
• Experience a lower cost of living.One report shows that New York, New York, is 63% more costly to live in than Orlando. The cost to buy food is also 15.8% higher in New York, and the median home cost is–get this–122.2% higher in New York. That means that Florida is overall a much cheaper place to live than New York.
• Florida has one of the highest job growth rates in the U.S.In fact, “Florida’s job growth for November [2021 alone] was six times faster than the nation as Florida gained 51,000 jobs (0.6%) while the nation as a whole gained 210,000 jobs (0.1%) over the month.”

Reasons to stay in New York

• Tropical storms are a bigger risk.Hurricane season goes on from June 1 to November 30. Florida has a higher likelihood of a hurricane in this timeframe than the rest of the U.S., including New York (though there is still a risk there).
• The landscape is flat, and it’s humid.As a New Yorker, you’re probably used to mountains. However, you won’t get that in Florida. What you _will_get are tons of beautiful beaches and outdoor activities that will make up for the flat landscape (and humidity).
• Moving furniture from New York to Florida might be challenging.That is, if you don’t have the right movers! Fortunately, the right moving company can help you take your furniture apart, load it up onto the moving truck, deliver it, and reassemble it at the new location. (Need moving services? We can help!)

The Average cost of moving from New York to Florida

Long-distance moves naturally add up since you have to consider the cost of movers, delivery vehicles, packing supplies, and more. In general, you’ll find that it costs about $3,000-$6,000 when moving from New York to Florida.

Moving from NY to Florida: your checklist

If you’re moving from NY to Florida, here’s some advice:

#1: Pack the bare essentials

When you move from New York to Florida, there’s going to be a long list of things you won’t need to take with you. That snow gear you got last year for your Gore Mountain snowboarding trip? You won’t need that here. Those winter clothes you stocked up when the temperatures dropped? Forget it.

The weather is drastically different in Florida than it is in New York. Florida typically has lengthy, warm summers with a good amount of humidity.

Winters can be chilly at times but nowhere near as cold as it gets in New York. (Typically, you’re looking at a low of 65 degrees in Key West.) South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port St. Lucie) is the warmest. The Panhandle (Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Navarre) tends to get cooler.

Here are some packing tips that you’ll thank yourself for later:

• Do a big declutter beforehand so that you can minimize your possessions down to the things you’ll actually use in the Sunshine State.
• Remember to mark breakable items as “fragile.”
• Designate specific boxes for office equipment, appliances, and electronic devices to keep them safe during transit.
• Consider color-coding each box by room so that you know where everything goes when it’s time to unload the boxes into your new home.

#2: Schedule a virtual walk-through

So, you found a beachfront condo that looks perfect, but you’re just not ready to take the plunge. You don’t have time to check it out in person after all–or do you? The answer is you just might, thanks to the power of technology.

With your sales rep’s help, you can do a virtual walk-through of the new place and make sure it’s everything you want before crossing any Ts or dotting any Is. (Another nice thing about these types of walk-throughs is that they’ll give you a good idea of the stairwells, hallways, and parking at your location. You can then pass that onto your Florida movers so that they know how to plan.)

#3: Choose the right long distance movers

When you relocate to Florida, there are a few must-dos. For instance, you’ll have to see if you need a parking permit for your moving truck where you’re moving. You also have to register your vehicle in Florida no later than 30 days after gaining residency, starting work, or getting your kids into school there. You also only have 10 days to get a Florida driver’s license after moving there, per the DMV.

With such a long checklist of items to do, save yourself the extra hassle of moving, and hire yourself a reputable long distance moving company that can take you from New York to Florida. When you work with Bellhop, you get the luxury of an experienced moving team with people on the ground in both states.

Our dedicated support and coordination teams can help plan your move from start to finish. We can also take on the loading, unloading, delivery, furniture disassembling, furniture reassembling, and more. The only thing we don’t do is packing, but we do offer a long list of packing supplies that can make your move that much easier. (We’ll even deliver it to you.)

And, unlike many of our competitors, we don’t charge for your move based on the weight of your items. Your things just need to fit in our moving vehicle, and we’ll take care of everything else. Oh, and if you need financing, we’ve got you covered there, too.

Hire one of the best moving companies to take you to Florida

You had some great memories in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New York City. Now, it’s time to make some new ones here in Florida. Bellhop can coordinate your move from New York to a number of cities in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, and more.

Moving from New York to Florida doesn’t have to be stressful. Bellhop is here to help. Book a move online now.