Moving to the Sunshine State can feel like a dream come true. It’s a popular destination, with Florida being the most popular state for Americans looking to move in 2023.
Many come from states with high income taxes like California (the highest) and New York (the third-highest), likely drawn by Florida’s lack of a state income tax.
However, the experience isn’t always perfect, and even those who grow to love Florida may have faced situations they wish they had understood better before relocating.
Based on insights from a former Florida transplant, here are some common realities that newcomers reportedly wish they knew sooner:
1. Job Troubles
Finding employment in Florida can present challenges, and this often depends significantly on the specific area where one decides to live.
While the overall number of job openings in Florida is quite similar to the national average, the accessibility of these positions can be difficult.
A large concentration of jobs is frequently found in cities. However, the cost of living in these urban centers can be prohibitively high for some salaries.
This situation often leads many new Florida residents to settle in more affordable areas, which then results in them needing to undergo long commutes to their workplaces.
2. Bugs, Oh My
Be prepared for insects, as they are a notable part of life in Florida. One specific experience that often catches unsuspecting new residents by surprise is Lovebug season. These are black mating flies that can be quite numerous.
They are known to splatter onto vehicles and hover around yards. To make things even more challenging, Florida experiences two distinct lovebug seasons throughout the year: one occurs from April to May and the other from August to September.
3. Bugs Again
Beyond the lovebugs, Florida is home to other significant insect populations. The company Proven Insect Repellent specifically identified Florida as the worst state in the country for mosquitos.
For transplants who were not adequately prepared for encountering large numbers of mosquitos, this can be particularly troublesome.
High concentrations of mosquitos are not just annoying; they also increase the risk of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses. Examples of such illnesses mentioned include West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.
4. Expensive Living
Contrary to potential assumptions, Florida is not considered among the cheapest states to live in.
Transplants arriving from states that are known for having lower costs of living, such as Mississippi, Kansas, and Alabama, may find themselves quite shocked by how expensive Florida is.
This higher cost applies to various essential expenses, including housing, gas, and food prices, which can be significantly higher compared to what they were accustomed to paying in their previous states.
5. Wavering Politics
Florida’s political landscape has undergone changes. Historically, Florida was known as a Democratic state. However, in more recent years, it has become relatively divided between Republicans and Democrats.
This shift in the state’s political alignment has reportedly led some transplants who hold strong convictions about their political party to have second thoughts about their decision to relocate.
On the positive side, some transplants find that because of this division, their individual vote feels like it carries more weight to impact election results.
6. Bug Control
Bugs are such a significant factor in Florida living that they warrant a third mention. Transplants who have moved from more northern parts of the country may later regret not having accounted for regular pest control when they were creating their monthly budgets.
Paying for routine pest control is considered vital in Florida due to the types of pests encountered. These common pests include:
- Termites that have the potential to eat wooden furniture.
- Cockroaches that can eat your food.
- Venomous spiders that could potentially be dangerous enough to send you to the hospital.
7. Not So Chill
Florida experienced the second-highest rate of incoming transplants in 2023. While some newcomers hoped for a notable change of pace, not just in the scenery but also in the people they would encounter, their experience might differ.
Depending on the specific area they choose to live, transplants sometimes find themselves frequently meeting many people from the very region of the U.S. they left. This can, for some, diminish the feeling of truly being in a new and different place.
8. Underperforming Schools
For parents with school-aged children, the move to Florida can sometimes lead to regret. One report suggests that Florida has the worst learning rate in the entire country.
Specifically, a report by the Tampa Bay Times indicated that Florida’s eighth-grade performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test across all subjects has not come close to its fourth-grade rank since 2003.
However, the sources also present a different perspective: U.S. News & World Report ranks Florida tenth in the nation for Pre-K-12 education and first for higher education.
This suggests that, as with any state, the specific school district and individual school a child attends can have a significant impact on the quality of education they receive.
9. High Insurance
While the benefit of not having to pay state income tax is often a major draw and sounds appealing on the surface, transplants frequently discover other high expenses they weren’t fully prepared for once they become Florida residents.
According to Bankrate, the cost of full coverage car insurance is notably high, costing about 55% more in Florida than the national average.
Furthermore, depending on the specific location within Florida, residents might be required to pay for additional types of insurance, such as flood insurance.
10. So Muggy
Florida’s weather is a defining characteristic. It is famously hot and humid. While some people, like the source’s author, find this weather appealing and even a driving factor for their move, never regretting the decision based on climate, many other transplants reportedly wish they had chosen to move to a cooler, dryer climate instead. The persistent heat and humidity can be a significant adjustment for those unaccustomed to it.
11. No Change of Seasons
Most individuals moving to Florida are well aware that the climate is hot and humid. However, some may not fully consider the implications of this consistent climate: there is no experience of a true change of four seasons.
While it’s still possible to enjoy seasonal items like a pumpkin spice latte from a coffee shop, the absence of traditional seasonal changes, such as seeing leaves change color and fall from trees, can make it feel like “some of the magic is gone”.
12. Snow Birds
Many people who first experience Florida as tourists might underestimate the level of traffic. Phrases like “The traffic isn’t that bad” might be uttered by future transplants.
However, once they become residents, dealing with extra traffic, particularly during the winter months, tends to lose its appeal.
This significant increase in congestion is attributed to the arrival of over 800,000 seasonal travelers, commonly known as “Snow Birds,” who visit Florida each winter.
Alicia Richards