When outsiders hear “Miami,” they usually think of Miami Beach. And even more specifically, they think of South Beach which isn’t really that big at all compared to the rest of the city and the metro of the Miami-Dade County.
You’ll find some people who come across more like caricatures than actual people. For better and worse, it’s a grandiose place and there’s no avoiding it.
A lot of people are drawn to Miami for the lower cost of living. For around $2,000 a month, you can rent an apartment in paradise, which is unheard of in most other resort cities. But not so fast. The annual salary can be a lot lower down here compared to other cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Make sure you factor in the difference of your salary before you get too excited.
That’s all of Florida, actually. But combined with Miami’s cost of living, if you’re coming from out of state, the money you’re saving can be quite substantial if you’ve secured a job with a decent salary. Which leads me to…
It’s not like they’re just handing out jobs on the corners of other cities. But the job market still isn’t great in Miami and if you’re seriously thinking of moving here, one of your first moves should be landing a job.
No, you don’t need to know Spanish to live in Miami. But there are plenty of jobs that require bilingual skills. Even for the jobs that don’t require you to speak Spanish, it definitely gives you an added edge in skills, making landing a job here that much easier.
The water is clear and the beaches are white. Believe the hype. But after your first year, you probably won’t even go to the beach that much. Unless you live there. But, like I said, Miami is big.
And you’ll see them everywhere. Going topless isn’t just legal, it’s pretty common and no big deal.
Miami Beach loves tourists? Well, the tourism industry sure does. But the locals? Well, not so much. Which leads me to…
Brunch isn’t as popular in Miami as it is in other cities, mainly because everyone is still asleep. If New York is the City That Never Sleeps, then Miami is the City That Sleeps ‘Til 11.
A big reason why the cities sleeps in so much. Of course, most of those clubs are filled with either tourists or people you probably won’t ever spend very much time with. But make no mistake about it, Miami is where people go to party.
There’s a reason the basketball team is called the Miami Heat. Miami is way hotter than you probably even think it is and in July you can expect somewhere in the neighborhood of a million percent humidity, making it feel like you walked out your front door into your swimming pool even though you’re still standing on your porch.
You’ll never need it outside. Except for maybe that one day in January. But everywhere you go in Miami is overly-air conditioned to compensate for the ridiculous heat. It’s great when you’re coming in from outside. But when you’ve been in it for a few hours, your toes start to go numb and you can’t feel your lips.
Weather goes from paradise to Armageddon in seconds flat in Miami. If you’re already a Florida resident, this is nothing new for you. But outsiders can get pretty freaked out by it. Also, expect a lot of rain. Miami gets more annual rainfall than Seattle.
If you’re afraid you won’t do well in the heat, don’t worry. You get used to it. In a few months, you’ll be just like everybody else who thinks a freak blizzard must be headed for Miami because the temperature dared to drop into the 60s.
Miami isn’t the easiest place to make friends. Most of the people who live here are outsiders who moved here just like you and it can take a while to crack the code of making some decent friends who live close by. Knowing someone before you move here will help you fast forward through all the awkward growing pains.
Nobody is bragging about Miami’s crime rate, but let’s not get carried away. There are bad neighborhoods and sections that you’ll want to avoid. But there are good areas and family friendly neighborhoods. Don’t listen to all hyperbole about this city, this definitely isn’t “Miami Vice”. Make sure you do plenty of research and visit the neighborhoods you’re interested before moving to feel confident about your choice.
Because you’ll never stop eating when you first move here. Or maybe ever, really. But the food is so mind-blowingly good, that when you first get to Miami, it’s all you can think about. You want to try everything and then some more. So, get a gym membership or just take a run down the beach a few times a week to keep your waistline in check.
Miami is a city like no other. It’s crazy, it’s fun, it’s wild, it’s loud, and can be breathtakingly gorgeous. But it’s not for everyone and it’s not uncommon for newcomers to feel like they made a mistake moving here. But chances are, if you can handle a lot of humidity and ridiculously bad drivers, you’ll find that it’s a small price to pay to live in paradise.
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