Florida to Virginia Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 824 mile interstate move from Florida to Virginia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs Virginia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder climate), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Virginia Ham), real estate & housing (mediterranean and modern vs colonial and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Virginia Ham & BBQ Pulled Pork
- Virginia housing costs are 3% less expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in Virginia is 17.73% more affordable than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to Virginia will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Florida to Virginia movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to Virginia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to Virginia
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Tourist overload
- Milder climate
- Fewer natural disasters
- Less crowded roads
- Calming landscapes
- Limited beaches
- Seasonal changes
- State income tax
- Fewer exotic cuisines
- Beach access
- Year-round sunshine
- No state income tax
- Wide dining options
Pros of moving from Florida to Virginia
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Virginia with fewer natural disasters
- Swap the traffic congestion of Florida for less crowded roads in Virginia
- Get ready for calming landscapes in Virginia
Cons of moving from Florida to Virginia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beach access in Florida to live with limited beaches in Virginia
- You'll lose out on the pro of year-round sunshine and have to settle for the con of seasonal changes
- Time to bid farewell to no state income tax and get used to state income tax in Virginia
- Swap wide dining options for fewer exotic cuisines
Florida vs. Virginia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Virginia Ham |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | BBQ Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Shrimp Tacos | Soft Shell Crab Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | AΓ§aΓ Bowl | Vegetable Brunswick Stew |
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 Virginia, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Virginia Ham of Virginia. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Shrimp Tacos, Virginia residents know they have tasty BBQ Pulled Pork and Soft Shell Crab Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the AΓ§aΓ Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Brunswick Stew of Virginia. 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 Columbia Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Virginia, don't wait too long before making your way to Virginia's acclaimed eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Lemaire Restaurant, and The Shack.
When comparing lifestyles, Virginia shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Virginia compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Virginia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and Virginia
Comparison | Florida | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mediterranean and Modern | Colonial and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Pool, Waterfront | Historic Details, Spacious Yards |
- The Mediterranean and Modern architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Virginia.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference pools and waterfront, Virginia real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and spacious yards.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Virginia is more walkable than Florida.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Virginia is more bike-friendly than Florida.
- Virginia has more of an urban feel than Florida.
- Virginia housing costs are 3% less expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $385,780 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Virginia have increased by 42% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in Virginia is 17.73% more affordable than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and Virginia
Comparison | Florida | Virginia |
---|---|---|
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, Tropical Storms | Hurricanes, Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 75Β°F | 86Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 48Β°F | 47Β°F / 27Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54" | 44" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 14" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to Virginia. Virginia gets 14% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- Virginia has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and winter storms in Virginia.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Virginia is 4 degrees colder than in Florida.
- The average winter lows are 21 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Virginia. Virginia receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and Virginia
Comparison | Florida | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $85,873 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 96.6 |
State Income Tax | 0 | 2-5.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83 | 0.80 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6 | 5.3 |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace | Defense, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Virginia tend to earn about 24% more than in Florida
- The COLI in Virginia is 1% lower than what you are used to living in Florida
- Bummer... By moving from FL to VA, you'll now have a state income tax of 2-5.75
- The affluence in Virginia is high compared to moderate affluence in Florida
- The poverty level is low in Virginia compared to moderate poverty in Florida
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Florida and low in Virginia
Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. Virginia
Comparison | Florida | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a leaning towards conservatism in recent years | Largely mixed, with northern regions leaning liberal and the rest of the state more conservative |
Local Politics | Significant focus on tourism, environmental issues, and retiree welfare | Emphasis on technology, military bases, and historical preservation |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a notable presence of Jewish, Islamic, and other faiths | Majorly Christian, with a diverse mix including a significant number of non-religious residents |
- Florida tends to lean mixed, with a leaning towards conservatism in its political climate
- Virginia, on the other hand, is often described as largely mixed, with northern regions leaning liberal and the rest of the state being more conservative
- Virginia's religious environment can be described as majorly Christian, with a diverse mix including a significant number of non-religious residents
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a notable presence of Jewish, Islamic, and other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to Virginia
Comparison | Florida | Virginia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | University of Virginia Virginia Tech James Madison University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School - Osprey Southside Elementary School - Sarasota Freedom Shores Elementary School - Boynton Beach | Arlington Science Focus School - Arlington Longfellow Middle School - Falls Church Colvin Run Elementary School - Vienna |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Bak Middle School of the Arts - West Palm Beach A.D. Henderson University School - Boca Raton Archimedean Middle Conservatory - Miami | Longfellow Middle School - Falls Church Cooper Middle School - McLean Henley Middle School - Crozet |
Top 3 High Schools | Design and Architecture Senior High - Miami Pine View School - Osprey Stanton College Preparatory School - Jacksonville | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology - Alexandria McLean High School - McLean Langley High School - McLean |
Top 3 private high schools | Ransom Everglades School - Coconut Grove Bolles School - Jacksonville American Heritage School - Plantation | Thomas Jefferson High for Science and Technology - Alexandria Hampton Roads Academy - Newport News Collegiate School - Richmond |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | American Heritage School - Plantation Gulliver Schools - Pinecrest Berean Christian School - West Palm Beach | Flint Hill School - Oakton St. Christopher's School - Richmond North Cross School - Roanoke |
Top 3 School Districts | Sarasota County Schools School District of Palm Beach County St. Johns County School District | Fairfax County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Arlington Public Schools |
How Much Do Florida to Virginia Movers Cost?
Moving 824 miles from Florida to Virginia will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,419 | 300 ft3 | $4.73 |
1 Bedroom | $2,110 | 450 ft3 | $4.69 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,484 | 750 ft3 | $4.65 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,063 | 1100 ft3 | $4.60 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,297 | 1600 ft3 | $4.56 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,133 | 1800 ft3 | $4.52 |
Top Florida to Virginia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to Virginia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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