Florida to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Updated June 24, 2025

Planning a 1,125 mile interstate move from Florida to Pennsylvania? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs Pennsylvania across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs cooler summers), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Philly Cheesesteak), real estate & housing (mediterranean, coastal vs colonial, farmhouse), 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 Philly Cheesesteak & Pittsburgh Steak Salad
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 34% less expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 33.30% more affordable than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to Pennsylvania will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Florida to Pennsylvania movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to Pennsylvania
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Tourist crowds
- Costly homeowners insurance
- Cooler summers
- Lower natural disaster risk
- Less crowded attractions
- Affordable insurance policies
- Further from ocean
- Colder winters
- Limited nightlife options
- Different cultural attractions
- Beaches nearby
- Year-round warmth
- Vibrant nightlife
- Diverse cultural heritage
Pros of moving from Florida to Pennsylvania
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Pennsylvania with lower natural disaster risk
- Swap the tourist crowds of Florida for less crowded attractions in Pennsylvania
- Get ready for affordable insurance policies in Pennsylvania
Cons of moving from Florida to Pennsylvania
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beaches nearby in Florida to live further from the ocean in Pennsylvania
- You'll lose out on the pro of year-round warmth and have to settle for the con of colder winters
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant nightlife and get used to limited nightlife options in Pennsylvania
- Swap diverse cultural heritage for different cultural attractions
Florida vs. Pennsylvania: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Philly Cheesesteak |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Pittsburgh Steak Salad |
Most popular street food item | Grouper Sandwich | Soft Pretzel |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit Tacos | Mushroom Cheesesteak |
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 Pennsylvania, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Grouper Sandwich, Pennsylvania residents know they have tasty Pittsburgh Steak Salad and Soft Pretzel to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit Tacos they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Mushroom Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles, and Columbia Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Pennsylvania, don't wait too long before making your way to Pennsylvania's acclaimed eateries like Pat's King of Steaks, Geno's Steaks, and Primanti Bros.
When comparing lifestyles, Pennsylvania shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Pennsylvania, compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Pennsylvania.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Florida | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mediterranean, Coastal | Colonial, Farmhouse |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Pool, Waterfront | Yard, Historic Details |
- The Mediterranean and Coastal architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Farmhouse architecture typical of Pennsylvania.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference pools and waterfront, Pennsylvania real estate listings often highlight features like yards and historic details.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Pennsylvania is more walkable than Florida.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Pennsylvania is less bike-friendly than Florida.
- Pennsylvania has less of an urban feel than Florida.
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 34% less expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $261,312 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Pennsylvania have increased by 43% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 33.30% more affordable than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Florida | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
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, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 75Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 48Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 38" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania gets 24% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- Pennsylvania 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 flooding in Pennsylvania.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Pennsylvania is 5 degrees colder than in Florida.
- The average winter lows are 28 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and Pennsylvania
Comparison | Florida | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $71,798 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 99.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3.07% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.35% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.08% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace | Manufacturing, Real Estate, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Notable | Notable |
Homelessness | Notable | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Pennsylvania tend to earn about 4% more than in Florida
- The COLI in Pennsylvania is 2% higher than what you are used to living in Florida
- Bummer... By moving from FL to PA, you'll now have a state income tax of 3.07%
- The affluence in Pennsylvania is moderate compared to moderate in Florida
- The poverty level is notable in Pennsylvania compared to notable in Florida
- In terms of homelessness, it is notable in Florida and low in Pennsylvania
Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. Pennsylvania
Comparison | Florida | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a slight lean towards conservatism in recent elections | Swing state, with urban areas leaning liberal and rural areas more conservative |
Local Politics | Varies by county, significant Hispanic influence in the South | Diverse, with strong union influence in some areas |
Religion | High diversity, strong Evangelical and Catholic presence | Predominantly Christian, with significant Catholic and Protestant communities |
- Florida tends to lean mixed, with a slight lean towards conservatism in its political climate
- Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, with urban areas leaning liberal and rural areas more conservative
- Pennsylvania's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, with significant Catholic and Protestant communities
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having high diversity, with a strong Evangelical and Catholic presence
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to Pennsylvania
Comparison | Florida | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University Carnegie Mellon University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School Osprey; Doral Academy of Technology Miami; Okaloosa STEMM Academy Valparaiso | Adlai Stevenson Elementary School Pittsburgh; Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School Philadelphia; Marshall Elementary School Wexford |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Pine View School Osprey; Archimedean Middle Conservatory Miami; A.D. Henderson University School Boca Raton | Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School Philadelphia; Thomas Jefferson Middle School Pittsburgh; Charles F. Patton Middle School Kennett Square |
Top 3 High Schools | Pine View School Osprey; Stanton College Preparatory School Jacksonville; School for Advanced Studies Miami | Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School Philadelphia; Conestoga High School Berwyn; Central High School Philadelphia |
Top 3 private high schools | Bolles School Jacksonville; American Heritage School Plantation; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale | The Haverford School Haverford; Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh; The Hill School Pottstown |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Ransom Everglades School Coconut Grove; American Heritage School Plantation; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale | The Baldwin School Bryn Mawr; The Episcopal Academy Newtown Square; Germantown Friends School Philadelphia |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District | Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Radnor Township School District North Allegheny School District |
How Much Do Florida to Pennsylvania Movers Cost?
Moving 1,125 miles from Florida to Pennsylvania will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2.5-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,564 | 300 ft3 | $5.21 |
1 Bedroom | $2,327 | 450 ft3 | $5.17 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,847 | 750 ft3 | $5.13 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,595 | 1100 ft3 | $5.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,071 | 1600 ft3 | $5.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,003 | 1800 ft3 | $5.00 |
Top Florida to Pennsylvania Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to Pennsylvania movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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