Florida to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,392 mile interstate move from Florida to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder summers), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Cherry Pie), real estate & housing (mediterranean, modern vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Cherry Pie & Coney Island Hot Dog
- Michigan housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in Michigan is 34.80% more affordable than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to Michigan will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Florida to Michigan movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to Michigan
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Flat landscapes
- Limited winter activities
- Milder summers
- No hurricanes
- Beautiful lakes
- Winter sports
- Colder winters
- State income tax
- Less coastline
- Quieter cities
- Year-round beach access
- No state income tax
- Beachfront sunsets
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from Florida to Michigan
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Michigan with no hurricanes
- Swap the flat landscapes of Florida for beautiful lakes in Michigan
- Get ready for winter sports in Michigan
Cons of moving from Florida to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from year-round beach access in Florida to live with colder winters in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of no state income tax and have to settle for the con of state income tax
- Time to bid farewell to beachfront sunsets and get used to less coastline in Michigan
- Swap vibrant nightlife for quieter cities
Florida vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Cherry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Coney Island Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Cuban Sandwich | Pasty |
Most popular vegan food | Mango Avocado Salad | Lentil Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Florida to Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Cherry Pie of Michigan. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Cuban Sandwich, Michigan residents know they have tasty Coney Island Hot Dog and Pasty to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mango Avocado Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Lentil Burger of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and Bell's Eccentric CafΓ©.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Michigan, compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and Michigan
Comparison | Florida | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mediterranean, Modern | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Pool, Waterfront | Lake Access, Energy Efficiency |
- The Mediterranean and Modern architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference pools and waterfronts, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Michigan is more walkable than Florida.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than Florida.
- Michigan has more of an urban feel than Florida.
- Michigan housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in Michigan is 34.80% more affordable than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and Michigan
Comparison | Florida | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 75Β°F | 79Β°F / 58Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 48Β°F | 31Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 30-38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 60-160" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to Michigan. Michigan gets 28% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- Michigan has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 11 degrees colder than in Florida.
- The average winter lows are 31 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and Michigan
Comparison | Florida | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Diverse |
Poverty | Noticeable | Significant |
Homelessness | Visible | Stable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 3% less than in Florida
- The COLI in Michigan will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in Florida
- Bummer... By moving from FL to MI, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.25%
- The affluence in Michigan is diverse compared to moderate affluence in Florida
- The poverty level is significant in Michigan compared to noticeable poverty in Florida
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Florida and stable in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. Michigan
Comparison | Florida | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state, leans slightly Republican in recent elections | Swing state, with a tendency to lean Democratic in recent elections |
Local Politics | Diverse, with strong Republican leadership in the state government | Varies by region, Democratic strongholds in cities like Detroit |
Religion | Christianity dominates, significant Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious populations | Christianity is prevalent, with a considerable non-religious demographic |
- Florida tends to lean as a swing state and leans slightly Republican in recent elections in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a tendency to lean Democratic in recent elections
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as Christianity being prevalent, with a considerable non-religious demographic
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominating, with significant Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious populations
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to Michigan
Comparison | Florida | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School Osprey; Doral Academy Miami; Archimedean Academy Miami | Harlan Elementary Birmingham; Bates Elementary Dexter; Spring Arbor Spring Arbor |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Pine View School Osprey; Archimedean Middle Conservatory Miami; Terrace Community Middle School Thonotosassa | Bates Academy Detroit; Boulan Park Middle School Troy; East Grand Rapids Middle School East Grand Rapids |
Top 3 High School Schools | Pine View School Osprey; School for Advanced Studies Miami; Miami Arts Charter Miami | International Academy of Macomb Clinton Township; City Middle/High School Grand Rapids; Troy High School Troy |
Top 3 private high schools | Ransom Everglades School Coconut Grove; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale; Bolles School Jacksonville | Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills; Detroit Country Day School Beverly Hills; Greenhills School Ann Arbor |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Ransom Everglades School Coconut Grove; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale; Bolles School Jacksonville | Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills; Detroit Country Day School Beverly Hills; Roeper School Birmingham |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Johns County School District; Sarasota County Schools; Okaloosa County School District | East Grand Rapids Public Schools; Birmingham Public Schools; Okemos Public Schools |
How Much Do Florida to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 1,392 miles from Florida to Michigan will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,992 | 300 ft3 | $6.64 |
1 Bedroom | $2,965 | 450 ft3 | $6.59 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,904 | 750 ft3 | $6.54 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,138 | 1100 ft3 | $6.49 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,302 | 1600 ft3 | $6.44 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,500 | 1800 ft3 | $6.39 |
Top Florida to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Florida to Michigan