Moving from Washington, D.C. to Miami, FL

Break away from the Beltway bustle for colorful, sunny South Beach

Multi-cultural Miami, FL is much more than just gorgeous beaches along the Atlantic Coast. It has become a global leader in commerce, finance, media, entertainment and not least of all, cutting loose. With a melting pot of nearly a half-million people living in the city and more than 6 million in the metro area, it should be easy to find your niche as a transplant from our nation’s capital.

Read on to see what awaits you in Miami if you’re moving from Washington, D.C. — and learn about a reliable, efficient and affordable long-distance moving option to help get you there.

Enjoy the tropical climate, but keep an eye on the forecast

Leave those winter clothes and snow shovels behind! Miamians bask year-round in warm, sunny weather. But along with that comes occasional storms, flooding and hurricanes — the season runs from June to August, which is also the rainiest time of year in Miami.

Comparing Miami’s affordability to D.C.

Miami’s cost of living is slightly higher than the national average, but still 40 percent lower than Washington, D.C. A house in Miami will cost you about $247,000 and rent will be just under $1,300 on average.

Best options for getting around

If you rely on Washington, D.C.’s extensive public transit system, you’ll find Miami lacking in that department. The Tri-Rail runs north from Miami International Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. However, coverage isn’t great for commuters living farther inland.

Most Miami residents get around by car, commonly reporting heavy traffic and aggressive drivers throughout the metro area — not surprising for big cities. Fortunately, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available.

Tourism drives economy in both Miami and D.C.

If you work in the leisure and hospitality industries, as many do in D.C., there should be plenty of career prospects in Miami. Millions of people fly through Miami International Airport and cruise through Port Miami each year, which creates the need for thousands of jobs in Miami-Dade County. Further employment opportunities exist in trade, manufacturing, finance and construction.

Getting from Washington, D.C. to Miami

Driving  from D.C. to Miami takes about 16 hours. If you opt for a road trip instead of flying, consider spicing things up with a few fun stops along the way! Check out Richmond, VA, where you can see the Virginia Fine Arts Museum and the Science Museum of Virginia. And don’t miss picturesque Savannah, GA, a city filled with beautiful historic homes, parks and oak trees.

Concerned about making the 1,000-mile trek behind the wheel of a moving truck? With U-Pack®, you don’t have to — just pack and load into our equipment, and we’ll drive it from D.C. to your new home in Miami! With service centers near both locations, we can easily help with your move. Contact us to learn more and get a free moving quote.