Places › Florida › Miami

Living in Miami, FL

Big city in Florida

Miami is a big city in Florida, home to about 447,000 people, with 3.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

In short: Tropical, international and lively, with a growing finance and tech scene. Hurricane risk and rising housing costs.

Is Miami a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: MIA is 5 mi away
  • Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.88% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Few dog parks: 24 within 9 mi
  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $621k, and rent is $3,130 a month
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: flat, with few parks for its size

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Miami ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
447,000
3.9 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
75°F / 87°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$621k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$3,130/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
114
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 0.88% property tax
Safety
1.6× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
12 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hurricanes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
12
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
36%
3 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MIA
5 mi away

Living in Miami: common questions

What is the cost of living in Miami?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $621k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $3,130 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 114, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Miami?

Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.88% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Miami safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.6× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Miami?

Miami is warm all year: winter days average around 75°F and summer days around 87°F.

Does Miami get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 12 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.36 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Miami?

The nearest major airport is MIA, about 5 mi away.

How Miami scores

Each bar compares Miami with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Major metro Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Dense & urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Walk & transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Expensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Very fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Below average
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Good
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Below average
🎭Culture Excellent
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Excellent

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These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Miami right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.