Minnesota to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,782 mile interstate move from Minnesota to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in Minnesota vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Hotdish vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs spanish revival, mediterranean), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hotdish and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Minnesota
- Rent in Florida is 33.51% more expensive than in Minnesota
- Moving from Minnesota to Florida will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Minnesota to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Minnesota to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Minnesota to Florida
- Cold winters
- Limited beaches
- Far from oceans
- Limited sunshine
- Mild winters
- Beautiful beaches
- Ocean access
- Sunny days
- Hurricane risks
- Higher humidity
- High tourist traffic
- More crowded
- Lush greenery
- Great schools
- Quiet lifestyle
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from Minnesota to Florida
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited beaches and moving to Florida with beautiful beaches
- Swap the far from oceans of Minnesota for ocean access in Florida
- Get ready for sunny days in Florida
Cons of moving from Minnesota to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush greenery in Minnesota to live with hurricane risks in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of great schools and have to settle with the con of higher humidity
- Time to bid farewell to a quiet lifestyle and get used to high tourist traffic in Florida
- Swap friendly communities for more crowded ones
Minnesota vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Minnesota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hotdish | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Mini Donuts | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Black Bean Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Minnesota to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Hotdish of Minnesota for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in Minnesota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Mini Donuts, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwich and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burger of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Minnesota eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and Smack Shack. After the boxes are unpacked in Florida, don't wait too long before making your way to Florida's acclaimed eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Minnesota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida compared to what you are used to in Minnesota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Minnesota and Florida
Comparison | Minnesota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Spanish Revival, Mediterranean |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside access, spacious backyards | Ocean view, gated communities |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that Minnesota is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Revival and Mediterranean architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to Minnesota's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside access and spacious backyards, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and gated communities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Florida is less walkable than Minnesota.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Florida is less bike-friendly than Minnesota.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than Minnesota.
- Florida housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Minnesota, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to Minnesotaβs $331,117.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to a 33% increase in Minnesota.
- Rent in Florida is 33.51% more expensive than in Minnesota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Minnesota and Florida
Comparison | Minnesota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | 198 days | 237 days |
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 | Blizzards, Floods | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Varies; Urban areas can be lower |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F / 63Β°F | 91Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F / 7Β°F | 70Β°F / 48Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30 inches | 50 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 45 inches | 0 inches |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Minnesota to Florida. Florida gets 20% more sunshine days than Minnesota.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Minnesota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in Minnesota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Florida is 8 degrees warmer than Minnesota.
- The average winter lows in Florida are 41 degrees warmer than they are in Minnesota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 20 more inches of rain compared to Minnesota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Minnesota and Florida
Comparison | Minnesota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,338 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | Up to 9.85% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.15% | 0.89% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.5% | 7.01% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Managed | Challenging |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 16% less than those in Minnesota
- The COLI in Florida will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in Minnesota
- Hooray, moving to FL means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is varied compared to moderate affluence in Minnesota
- The poverty level is moderate in Florida compared to low in Minnesota
- In terms of homelessness, it is managed in Minnesota and challenging in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in Minnesota vs. Florida
Comparison | Minnesota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Liberal | Mixed, with Conservative leanings |
Local Politics | Democratic in urban areas, Republican in rural | Republican in northern areas, Democratic in southern urban areas |
Religion | Mainly Protestant, with a significant Catholic minority | Diverse, with a larger evangelical Christian presence |
- Minnesota tends to lean moderately Liberal in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with Conservative leanings
- Florida's religious environment can be described as diverse with a larger evangelical Christian presence
- Minnesota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Protestant with a significant Catholic minority
Education Guide When Moving from Minnesota to Florida
Comparison | Minnesota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Minnesota University of St. Thomas Minnesota State University | University of Florida Florida State University University of Miami |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower (Stillwater) Deephaven Elementary (Minnetonka) | Pine View School (Osprey) Doral Academy of Technology (Doral) Okaloosa STES (Valparaiso) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wayzata Central Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Middle (Stillwater) | Bak Middle School of the Arts (West Palm Beach) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Doral Academy Charter Middle School (Doral) |
Top 3 High Schools | Wayzata High School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Senior High (Minnetonka) Edina Senior High (Edina) | Pine View School (Osprey) School for Advanced Studies (SAS) (Miami) Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) (Miami) |
Top 3 private high schools | Breck School (Minneapolis) Blake School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) | Ransom Everglades School (Miami) Bolles School (Jacksonville) American Heritage School (Plantation) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Breck School (Minneapolis) Blake School (Minneapolis) Mounds Park Academy (Saint Paul) | Pine View School (Osprey) American Heritage School (Plantation) Gulliver Prep (Pinecrest) |
Top 3 School Districts | Minnetonka Public School District Edina Public School District Wayzata Public Schools | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District |
How Much Do Minnesota to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 1,782 miles from Minnesota to Florida will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,213 | 300 ft3 | $7.38 |
1 Bedroom | $3,297 | 450 ft3 | $7.33 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,457 | 750 ft3 | $7.28 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,948 | 1100 ft3 | $7.23 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,481 | 1600 ft3 | $7.18 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,826 | 1800 ft3 | $7.13 |
Top Minnesota to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Minnesota to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Minnesota to Florida
Minneapolis to Florida
- Minneapolis to Cape Coral
- Minneapolis to Fort Lauderdale
- Minneapolis to Hialeah
- Minneapolis to Hollywood
- Minneapolis to Jacksonville
- Minneapolis to Miami
- Minneapolis to Orlando
- Minneapolis to Pembroke Pines
- Minneapolis to Port St. Lucie
- Minneapolis to St. Petersburg
- Minneapolis to Tallahassee
- Minneapolis to Tampa