A lively place that is charged with the energy of the waves of the Caribbean, Miami is a marriage between the sophistication of the city and the seductive beaches. With world-class shopping, restaurants serving gourmet seafood delights, a colorful arts scene, sporting events, and plenty of family-friendly attractions, Miami is considered one of the most versatile metropolitan destinations in the country. In fact, living in Miami has a lot to offer, not to mention the vibrant tropical climate. If you’re led to think that the only way to enjoy all of these extraordinary benefits by living in Miami would cost a fortune, think again. In fact, the cost of living in Miami is considerably cheaper than many other major cities like New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle. In a data set presented by Homefair.com, which lists cities by how much salary you need to earn to achieve the same standard of living, Miami is well below $51,924 than New York at $96,204. Those that compete with the cost of living in Miami, such as Atlanta, Seattle, Indianapolis and Phoenix, do not offer the vibrant climate, dynamic business centers and scenic attractions that Miami offers.
Additionally, Miami’s sales tax is lower than the national average. There is no state income tax or local income tax in Miami, definitely a cost saver. A beautiful home in Miami will cost you less, as will property taxes, car insurance, and electricity. Living in Miami, you will even spend less time traveling than in other busy major cities. In general, you’ll spend less on things that aren’t fun if you live in Miami. Therefore, you will have more money and time to spend on the things that are.
While Washington, DC has the federal government and Los Angeles has the film industry, Miami has its beaches. Tourism can rightfully be considered the “company of the city” of Miami. Another of the ilk would be Miami’s international business, especially with Latin America. This reflects the wide range of nationalities among Miamians, many of whom are first-generation Americans. Living in Miami is having all the excitement of living in an international city. Miami has more nationalities than one can imagine if you live anywhere else in the United States. Many more people in Miami speak Spanish than English as their primary mother tongue. It is also relatively common to hear people speak Creole, French or German. Tourism, international banking and very strong links with Latin America are what make this city intensely diverse. Living in Miami is like living in a melting pot of cultures, and therefore it is a very appropriate place to learn different languages as well as different traditions and ways of doing things.
Living in Miami Beach is highly recommended for young professionals and singles. Miami has a plethora of restaurants, nightlife, places to hang out, and different people to see and meet. For married people with children, experts recommend considering places like Kendall, Coral Gables and Pinecrest. Pinecrest has a reputation for having the best public schools in the Miami area and is therefore very conducive to children starting school.
The traffic in Miami is just as busy as the traffic in other major cities. The vehicular flow moving towards the city center can take you around an hour to drive approximately 15 miles, however this is quite typical during peak hours. As a tip, long-time Miamians suggest newcomers try to find a place to live close to where they work. This is not that difficult to do because very often one can find less expensive places “located between very expensive buildings”.
For professionals, the fact that people are seen in bathing suits more often than in other parts of the country does not mean that the business attracts casual. The good thing is that special considerations are made for hot weather. For example, male lawyers wear suits, but they can take off their jackets when the temperature rises.
