Moving to Miami discussion
Negative reviews
Carlos
What to said, I live here since 2013, I'm Cuban, but I have to said that I'm truly surprised for what we are doing with this city, We have to do something with the traffic and the insanely drivers who drive as they own way, the police department are not working on that way and of course all Latins who live here think they are in they own country, so, people, we are not living in Cuba,Venezuela,Mexico,Ecuador,Honduras,Nicaragua,Colombia, we are living in America now, we have to care about our city, we have to adapt and respect the law, I feel here that I'm not living in USA, but I feel this is the City more closer to USA :(
Antonio
This has to be the absolute worst place to live in America. The climate is horrible, along with the majority of the people. I can't believe that I lived there for so long. I went from living in the worst city, to living in the best city in America. The best city being San Diego, with the best climate, and where the majority of the people are polite and friendly.I am currently in Miami visiting my mother, and I can't wait to return to civilization. You will be hard pressed to find anyone that speaks english in Miami. I here people bad mouth Mexicans a lot, but at least the Mexicans in California speak english and try to assimilate to the American way of life. Miami is actually an embarrassment to the United States. Miami is simply pathetic. I feel very sorry for the good people that live there.Good luck Miamians,because you really need it.
Neutral reviews
Patrick L.
https://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-living-in-miami-what-is-it-like
A lot of the haters you'll hear are full of crap. That said, this is a giant, spread-out metropolitan area....you're probably not going to meet people just going about your daily business. You need to get out there and work for it. Otherwise, it's very easy to be a lonely person in a large crowd.
Come down and live like a local for a bit before you commit to moving. I think a lot of people fall in love with the tourist thing here, then they move and realize it isn't what it seemed to be. I love my city as much as anyone, but it can be a tough city, for many reasons.
Charlie F.
https://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-living-in-miami-what-is-it-like
Every place had its ups and downs. You learn where to stay away from certain areas just like you did in beautiful Beantown.
You'll love the weather here from November through April. After that it's HHH - Hazy Hot & Humid with a 30% chance of a thunderstorm everyday except for the occasional Hurricane warning.
If you're coming down with a job that would be a big help because your co-workers can show you what's hot and what's not (if they like you :-)
Figure out what you're budget will be for living because that will determine where you live and how naughty or nice it is.
Also remember if you're meeting people in the touristy areas they're probably just that, and will be heading home soon.
Billy V.
https://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-living-in-miami-what-is-it-like
I moved from NYC to Miami and lived in Brickell for 5 years. While I love the weather even during the hot months, your first comment I found to be true. It seem everyone wanted to be somebody else. There is a lot of pretentious people. It is a party city, but not like Boston were it has a Bar scene. Miami is clubs, clubs and lounges. Very pricey.
The cost of living is cheaper compared to Boston and NYC. If you don't have a job down here before you arrive expect to work in hospitality industry. Lots of money can be made at the right place. Professional jobs are tough to get. Very limited industry.
I found the city to be safe, but then again I would not drive through shady areas. You need to have common sense and street smarts. Traffic is bad.
Would I go back yes, but I found South Florida to be subject to the flow of tourism. When tourism is good the area has good economic prosperity. Everything is subject to this "tourism tax".
Miami area was fun, clean and the weather makes up for alot.
Minal Jorden
Despite Miami's reputation as a vibrant party town, the metro area's population skews older than you might expect. The median age is 40, slanting older due to the large number of baby boomers and retirees who live in the region. Perhaps less surprisingly, 54 percent of the population is single, and more than 40 percent of residents in the city of Miami live in nonfamily households. On the other hand, roughly 70 percent of Miami-Dade County residents live in family households, with suburban areas like Doral and Key Biscayne drawing families looking for kid-friendly restaurants and parks, good schools and a quieter atmosphere.
Miami is known for its large Hispanic community, many members of which hail from Cuba. During the 1960s, more than 150,000 Cubans sought refuge in the U.S., mainly in the Miami area, during the Cuban revolution. By 1980, the Cuban population in the country had grown to exceed 600,000. This strong cultural identity is most visible in the areas of Little Havana and Hialeah and remains prevalent across the entire region. Miami's diverse population also includes people from the Caribbean and Central and South America, each showcasing their own culture through art, music and cuisine.
Only about 38 percent of Miami's population is religious, with top affiliations including Catholic and Evangelical Protestant. Miami is also home to the 11th largest Jewish community in the U.S.
Olimpia Mercedes Martinotti
I’ve lived here almost 20 years with the exception of my years in college and I have a real love-hate relationship with this city.
Housing is expensive here and for relatively low quality. Many 1/1s in the “nicer” parts of town (like the Grove, Gables, Downtown, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, etc.) start at about $1000 and realistically they are closer to $2000 or above if you want it to be nice (ie, not 40-60 years old and a little run down.) I’ve lived in other major cities and the cost of renting was nowhere near this high for twice the space. You can live further away from the center and pay less, but then you spend more time driving anywhere.
Traffic is horrible and like others have said people go out of their ways to be rude while driving. People here are also terrible at driving, and every time it rains (which is a lot in summer) it catches them by surprise or something, so they get even worse at driving. It’s soul-sucking to be stuck on US1 or on I95 for an hour or two because people are atrocious at driving.
Miami is also famously terrible for having jobs that require degrees (I’ve seen several articles on this now.) The service industry is still the heart of the Miami economy, so jobs here that require a higher education are scarce. Particularly in science. When you do find a job in that sector you get paid less than the national average. In my industry we are making at least $10,000 less a year than colleagues in other states, like Texas or California. I have friends in law and engineering that echo this sentiment.
The pluses are the amazing weather if you love it hot and humid like I do, the big-city life (good shopping, plenty to do, lots to eat, events etc.), and the scenery. If I could keep the weather but live in a city that is more organized, civil, and educated I would.
mundotaku
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
I genuinely can't complain. I live in a nice house, my commute is 15 min each way, which is short and sweet. I ain't Brickell rich and I don't drive nothing ultra fancy, but neither I starve nor I drive a transportation. I get plenty of free time, I have good friends, and I know plenty of cool places.
The only thing that I really hate about this city are
A- Douchebags (mostly those who do not know the meaning of empathy or what rules and laws means)
and B- The insanely hot weather.
Besides that, it is a really awesome place to live as long as you earn enough.
beandip111
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
I think it really depends on how much money you have. This is a very difficult place to be broke but amazing if you are rich. The people really are awful, grouchy, rude, and disrespectful of others and the environment. There’s no order. That said, when I travel anywhere in middle America I’m so happy to be back to the craziness. It’s colorful, beautiful, never boring, and I love the weather. I’ve met people that say they will never leave because the food is so good. The beach is amazing and there is a lot to explore in the area.
a679591
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
Live on the beach or near the water and make good money, it's amazing how 90° doesn't feel like 90°, but in Kendall, or wynwood, or down in homestead, 90° very quickly becomes feels like 100°+
Besides the terrible drivers and traffic, high cost of living (not as bad as other places) but low wages, unless you make good money, it's not a bad place to live. I've been to a lot of other cities that don't hold up the same for one reason or another.
Always setting open that isn't too far away or expensive, and there's always good food easily accessible. When I move I'm going to miss a lot of things of Miami, but living here isn't one of those things.
Positive reviews
Isaac Zapata
Dubbed "The Magic City," Miami is one of the most vibrant metro areas in the U.S., and it's well on its way to becoming one of the largest international business hubs in the world. In Miami, each neighborhood reflects its diverse communities and adds to the character of the area and Miami-Dade County.
Miami proper draws working millennials with a multitude of trade and banking careers, while Miami Beach still has a party-hard atmosphere. Meanwhile, suburbs such as Key Biscayne, Coral Gables and Doral are popular locations for raising families. Miami's population is very accepting of nontraditional families, as well. With one of the most outspoken LGBT communities in the country, Miami plays host to some of the nation's largest pride celebrations.
When they're not partying, Miami residents can be found taking advantage of their coveted weather and spending time relaxing on the beach or enjoying nearby natural areas, including Biscayne National Park and the Everglades.
Peter Magnoli
Segregated, but not how you would expect. If you are poor, Miami can be a tough place to live. If you are wealthy, few places offer so much wow! for your money. Some of the most expensive zip codes are here. If you are middle/ upper middle class, Miami is diverse, socially progressive, sun drenched (except in summer when the weather sucks) hipsterish, artistic, gay, macho, cosmopolitan, maddening traffic, humid, unpolluted (often least polluted city in the country) and really really isolated. That isolation creates a unique blend of cultures and lends itself to living well with outdoor stuff, really good food (not in south beach) and a hedonistic vibe.
Jawad Muhammad
Miami is not a bad place to live by any means but of course you should avoid the relatively bad areas (in terms of crime rates). It is a multicultural and multiethnic city and there are lots of areas where you find different ethnic communities living together. Miami-dade county has a “miami neighborhood map” that shows which areas are good or bad (again in terms of crime rates) and I would suggest you google it
In terms of finances, it is still bit on the higher side for rental housing with average 1 bedroom apartment ranging from 800 till 1200 per month. Gated communities are plenty as well but cannot really comment on job prospects as it really depends on the type of job and industry etc. Investing in learning Spanish should pay off if you plan to live and work here. It is a clean city overall and the weather is great (a bit on the warmer side in summer from june till july). Miami has good primary schools and decent universities as well.
Mike
I moved here from Bland Diego after coming here for business..dramatic upgrade. If you desire a true warm weather CITY (not collection of beach towns) on the ocean then your only 2 choices are Miami and LA.
Miami is a sexy, cosmopolitan city with great restaurants, nightlife, best looking women in the country, nice ocean you can go in year round without a wetsuit, modern architecture, good hub airport with close proximity to many great domestic and international cities, all 4 pro sports represented, and very good weather.
Those who seem to complain about Miami most likely came here without jobs lined up, cannot support their standard of living, and/or live inland which means they do not get breezes and are stuck in traffic all day.
Todd
smaller than I thought, traffic seemed thick, good food and nice weather
nofiance4me
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
I think it depends on where you’re coming from and what you’re looking for. I lived in Miami for more than a decade and never had personal issues with crime. I didn’t buy or sell drugs, didn’t stay out until 5 am and go home with strangers, and I felt plenty safe at all times.
There’s no place quite like it. If you’re drawn to it, try it out. Rent a furnished studio somewhere close to everything and immerse yourself.
123tswr
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g34439-i35-k652563-Living_in_Miami-Miami_Beach_Florida.html
Ok many many people have been in your state of mind. As far as single life in Miami well there are many many transient people living here if you think you will meet your soul mate at crobar or mansion most likely not but hey who knows. The professional scene is out there it is yours to seek. We have 3 airports to choose from (nice). Ok the best for last........You know in Indianapolis when you wake up on those January mornings and it is 20 degrees out you drag yourself out of bed to the car and have to scrape the frozen winshield? back home from work dark at 5pm and again your freezing your a£s off? well we here in Miami we are enjoying a 75 degree day sipping a cold drink at a OUTDOOR restaurant looking up at the tv in the bar which has the weather channel on Mike Sidel is on Location in you guessed it...Indianapolis forecast Cold with snow high 20 low -3..........Any other questions? get rid of the sweaters pack the car make your favorite mix on a cd And hit the road
Negative reviews
Carlos
What to said, I live here since 2013, I'm Cuban, but I have to said that I'm truly surprised for what we are doing with this city, We have to do something with the traffic and the insanely drivers who drive as they own way, the police department are not working on that way and of course all Latins who live here think they are in they own country, so, people, we are not living in Cuba,Venezuela,Mexico,Ecuador,Honduras,Nicaragua,Colombia, we are living in America now, we have to care about our city, we have to adapt and respect the law, I feel here that I'm not living in USA, but I feel this is the City more closer to USA :(
Antonio
This has to be the absolute worst place to live in America. The climate is horrible, along with the majority of the people. I can't believe that I lived there for so long. I went from living in the worst city, to living in the best city in America. The best city being San Diego, with the best climate, and where the majority of the people are polite and friendly.I am currently in Miami visiting my mother, and I can't wait to return to civilization. You will be hard pressed to find anyone that speaks english in Miami. I here people bad mouth Mexicans a lot, but at least the Mexicans in California speak english and try to assimilate to the American way of life. Miami is actually an embarrassment to the United States. Miami is simply pathetic. I feel very sorry for the good people that live there.Good luck Miamians,because you really need it.
Neutral reviews
Patrick L.
https://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-living-in-miami-what-is-it-like
A lot of the haters you'll hear are full of crap. That said, this is a giant, spread-out metropolitan area....you're probably not going to meet people just going about your daily business. You need to get out there and work for it. Otherwise, it's very easy to be a lonely person in a large crowd.
Come down and live like a local for a bit before you commit to moving. I think a lot of people fall in love with the tourist thing here, then they move and realize it isn't what it seemed to be. I love my city as much as anyone, but it can be a tough city, for many reasons.
Charlie F.
https://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-living-in-miami-what-is-it-like
Every place had its ups and downs. You learn where to stay away from certain areas just like you did in beautiful Beantown.
You'll love the weather here from November through April. After that it's HHH - Hazy Hot & Humid with a 30% chance of a thunderstorm everyday except for the occasional Hurricane warning.
If you're coming down with a job that would be a big help because your co-workers can show you what's hot and what's not (if they like you :-)
Figure out what you're budget will be for living because that will determine where you live and how naughty or nice it is.
Also remember if you're meeting people in the touristy areas they're probably just that, and will be heading home soon.
Billy V.
https://www.yelp.com/topic/miami-living-in-miami-what-is-it-like
I moved from NYC to Miami and lived in Brickell for 5 years. While I love the weather even during the hot months, your first comment I found to be true. It seem everyone wanted to be somebody else. There is a lot of pretentious people. It is a party city, but not like Boston were it has a Bar scene. Miami is clubs, clubs and lounges. Very pricey.
The cost of living is cheaper compared to Boston and NYC. If you don't have a job down here before you arrive expect to work in hospitality industry. Lots of money can be made at the right place. Professional jobs are tough to get. Very limited industry.
I found the city to be safe, but then again I would not drive through shady areas. You need to have common sense and street smarts. Traffic is bad.
Would I go back yes, but I found South Florida to be subject to the flow of tourism. When tourism is good the area has good economic prosperity. Everything is subject to this "tourism tax".
Miami area was fun, clean and the weather makes up for alot.
Minal Jorden
Despite Miami's reputation as a vibrant party town, the metro area's population skews older than you might expect. The median age is 40, slanting older due to the large number of baby boomers and retirees who live in the region. Perhaps less surprisingly, 54 percent of the population is single, and more than 40 percent of residents in the city of Miami live in nonfamily households. On the other hand, roughly 70 percent of Miami-Dade County residents live in family households, with suburban areas like Doral and Key Biscayne drawing families looking for kid-friendly restaurants and parks, good schools and a quieter atmosphere.
Miami is known for its large Hispanic community, many members of which hail from Cuba. During the 1960s, more than 150,000 Cubans sought refuge in the U.S., mainly in the Miami area, during the Cuban revolution. By 1980, the Cuban population in the country had grown to exceed 600,000. This strong cultural identity is most visible in the areas of Little Havana and Hialeah and remains prevalent across the entire region. Miami's diverse population also includes people from the Caribbean and Central and South America, each showcasing their own culture through art, music and cuisine.
Only about 38 percent of Miami's population is religious, with top affiliations including Catholic and Evangelical Protestant. Miami is also home to the 11th largest Jewish community in the U.S.
Olimpia Mercedes Martinotti
I’ve lived here almost 20 years with the exception of my years in college and I have a real love-hate relationship with this city.
Housing is expensive here and for relatively low quality. Many 1/1s in the “nicer” parts of town (like the Grove, Gables, Downtown, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, etc.) start at about $1000 and realistically they are closer to $2000 or above if you want it to be nice (ie, not 40-60 years old and a little run down.) I’ve lived in other major cities and the cost of renting was nowhere near this high for twice the space. You can live further away from the center and pay less, but then you spend more time driving anywhere.
Traffic is horrible and like others have said people go out of their ways to be rude while driving. People here are also terrible at driving, and every time it rains (which is a lot in summer) it catches them by surprise or something, so they get even worse at driving. It’s soul-sucking to be stuck on US1 or on I95 for an hour or two because people are atrocious at driving.
Miami is also famously terrible for having jobs that require degrees (I’ve seen several articles on this now.) The service industry is still the heart of the Miami economy, so jobs here that require a higher education are scarce. Particularly in science. When you do find a job in that sector you get paid less than the national average. In my industry we are making at least $10,000 less a year than colleagues in other states, like Texas or California. I have friends in law and engineering that echo this sentiment.
The pluses are the amazing weather if you love it hot and humid like I do, the big-city life (good shopping, plenty to do, lots to eat, events etc.), and the scenery. If I could keep the weather but live in a city that is more organized, civil, and educated I would.
mundotaku
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
I genuinely can't complain. I live in a nice house, my commute is 15 min each way, which is short and sweet. I ain't Brickell rich and I don't drive nothing ultra fancy, but neither I starve nor I drive a transportation. I get plenty of free time, I have good friends, and I know plenty of cool places.
The only thing that I really hate about this city are
A- Douchebags (mostly those who do not know the meaning of empathy or what rules and laws means)
and B- The insanely hot weather.
Besides that, it is a really awesome place to live as long as you earn enough.
beandip111
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
I think it really depends on how much money you have. This is a very difficult place to be broke but amazing if you are rich. The people really are awful, grouchy, rude, and disrespectful of others and the environment. There’s no order. That said, when I travel anywhere in middle America I’m so happy to be back to the craziness. It’s colorful, beautiful, never boring, and I love the weather. I’ve met people that say they will never leave because the food is so good. The beach is amazing and there is a lot to explore in the area.
a679591
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
Live on the beach or near the water and make good money, it's amazing how 90° doesn't feel like 90°, but in Kendall, or wynwood, or down in homestead, 90° very quickly becomes feels like 100°+
Besides the terrible drivers and traffic, high cost of living (not as bad as other places) but low wages, unless you make good money, it's not a bad place to live. I've been to a lot of other cities that don't hold up the same for one reason or another.
Always setting open that isn't too far away or expensive, and there's always good food easily accessible. When I move I'm going to miss a lot of things of Miami, but living here isn't one of those things.
Positive reviews
Isaac Zapata
Dubbed "The Magic City," Miami is one of the most vibrant metro areas in the U.S., and it's well on its way to becoming one of the largest international business hubs in the world. In Miami, each neighborhood reflects its diverse communities and adds to the character of the area and Miami-Dade County.
Miami proper draws working millennials with a multitude of trade and banking careers, while Miami Beach still has a party-hard atmosphere. Meanwhile, suburbs such as Key Biscayne, Coral Gables and Doral are popular locations for raising families. Miami's population is very accepting of nontraditional families, as well. With one of the most outspoken LGBT communities in the country, Miami plays host to some of the nation's largest pride celebrations.
When they're not partying, Miami residents can be found taking advantage of their coveted weather and spending time relaxing on the beach or enjoying nearby natural areas, including Biscayne National Park and the Everglades.
Peter Magnoli
Segregated, but not how you would expect. If you are poor, Miami can be a tough place to live. If you are wealthy, few places offer so much wow! for your money. Some of the most expensive zip codes are here. If you are middle/ upper middle class, Miami is diverse, socially progressive, sun drenched (except in summer when the weather sucks) hipsterish, artistic, gay, macho, cosmopolitan, maddening traffic, humid, unpolluted (often least polluted city in the country) and really really isolated. That isolation creates a unique blend of cultures and lends itself to living well with outdoor stuff, really good food (not in south beach) and a hedonistic vibe.
Jawad Muhammad
Miami is not a bad place to live by any means but of course you should avoid the relatively bad areas (in terms of crime rates). It is a multicultural and multiethnic city and there are lots of areas where you find different ethnic communities living together. Miami-dade county has a “miami neighborhood map” that shows which areas are good or bad (again in terms of crime rates) and I would suggest you google it
In terms of finances, it is still bit on the higher side for rental housing with average 1 bedroom apartment ranging from 800 till 1200 per month. Gated communities are plenty as well but cannot really comment on job prospects as it really depends on the type of job and industry etc. Investing in learning Spanish should pay off if you plan to live and work here. It is a clean city overall and the weather is great (a bit on the warmer side in summer from june till july). Miami has good primary schools and decent universities as well.
Mike
I moved here from Bland Diego after coming here for business..dramatic upgrade. If you desire a true warm weather CITY (not collection of beach towns) on the ocean then your only 2 choices are Miami and LA.
Miami is a sexy, cosmopolitan city with great restaurants, nightlife, best looking women in the country, nice ocean you can go in year round without a wetsuit, modern architecture, good hub airport with close proximity to many great domestic and international cities, all 4 pro sports represented, and very good weather.
Those who seem to complain about Miami most likely came here without jobs lined up, cannot support their standard of living, and/or live inland which means they do not get breezes and are stuck in traffic all day.
Todd
smaller than I thought, traffic seemed thick, good food and nice weather
nofiance4me
https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/98i1u5/do_you_like_living_in_miami/
I think it depends on where you’re coming from and what you’re looking for. I lived in Miami for more than a decade and never had personal issues with crime. I didn’t buy or sell drugs, didn’t stay out until 5 am and go home with strangers, and I felt plenty safe at all times.
There’s no place quite like it. If you’re drawn to it, try it out. Rent a furnished studio somewhere close to everything and immerse yourself.
123tswr
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g34439-i35-k652563-Living_in_Miami-Miami_Beach_Florida.html
Ok many many people have been in your state of mind. As far as single life in Miami well there are many many transient people living here if you think you will meet your soul mate at crobar or mansion most likely not but hey who knows. The professional scene is out there it is yours to seek. We have 3 airports to choose from (nice). Ok the best for last........You know in Indianapolis when you wake up on those January mornings and it is 20 degrees out you drag yourself out of bed to the car and have to scrape the frozen winshield? back home from work dark at 5pm and again your freezing your a£s off? well we here in Miami we are enjoying a 75 degree day sipping a cold drink at a OUTDOOR restaurant looking up at the tv in the bar which has the weather channel on Mike Sidel is on Location in you guessed it...Indianapolis forecast Cold with snow high 20 low -3..........Any other questions? get rid of the sweaters pack the car make your favorite mix on a cd And hit the road