Mississippi to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 732 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited beach access vs abundant beaches), food & health (like Catfish vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (antebellum, ranch 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 Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 122% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Florida is 62.51% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Florida will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Mississippi to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Florida
- Limited beach access
- Fewer job opportunities
- Higher poverty rates
- Hot, humid summers
- Limited entertainment
- Abundant beaches
- Thriving job market
- Lower poverty rates
- Warm, breezy climate
- Vibrant entertainment scene
- Higher cost of living
- Transient population
- Higher population density
- Urban lifestyle
- Heavy traffic
- Low cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Friendly locals
- Country lifestyle
- Simple traffic
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Florida
- Say goodbye to limited beach access and hello to abundant beaches
- Look forward to moving away from fewer job opportunities and moving to Florida with a thriving job market
- Swap the higher poverty rates of Mississippi for lower poverty rates in Florida
- Get ready for a warm, breezy climate in Florida
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Mississippi to live with a higher cost of living in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle for the con of a transient population
- Time to bid farewell to friendly locals and get used to a higher population density in Florida
- Swap a country lifestyle for an urban lifestyle
Mississippi vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Stew | Black Bean Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Mississippi to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwiches and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Stew 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 Mississippi eateries like Mayflower Cafe, City Grocery, and Snackbar. After the boxes are unpacked in Florida, don't wait too long before making your way to Florida's acclaimed eateries like Versailles Restaurant, Joe's Stone Crab, and Bern's Steak House.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Florida
Comparison | Mississippi | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Ranch | Spanish Revival, Mediterranean |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to beaches, Pools |
- The Antebellum and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Revival and Mediterranean architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and quiet neighborhoods, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to beaches and pools.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Florida is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Florida is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Florida housing costs are 122% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased 66% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Florida is 62.51% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Florida
Comparison | Mississippi | Florida |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 70Β°F | 90Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55Β°F / 34Β°F | 70Β°F / 48Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 54 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Mississippi to Florida. Florida gets 10% more sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Florida has similar humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Florida.
- The average summer high temperature in Florida is 1 degree colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows in Florida are 14 degrees warmer than those in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Florida. Florida receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Florida
Comparison | Mississippi | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.0 | 0.0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8 | 0.98 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.07 | 7.05 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Tourism, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Diverse |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Manageable | Challenging |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 31% more than those in Mississippi
- The COLI in Florida will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- Hooray, moving to Florida means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is diverse compared to moderate affluence in Mississippi
- The poverty level is moderate in Florida compared to high in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Mississippi and challenging in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Florida
Comparison | Mississippi | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Moderately Conservative |
Local Politics | Deep-rooted conservative values | Mix of conservative and liberal policies |
Religion | Primarily Protestant | Diverse; Protestant and Catholic majority |
- Mississippi tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as moderately conservative
- Florida's religious environment can be described as diverse with a Protestant and Catholic majority
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Florida
Comparison | Mississippi | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Elementary School (Madison) Northshore Elementary (Brandon) Eastside Elementary (Clinton) | Pine View School (Osprey) Suncoast School for Innovative Studies (Sarasota) Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies (Cocoa Beach) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Lewisburg Middle School (Olive Branch) Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) | Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Pine View School (Osprey) Paul R. Smith Middle School (Holiday) |
Top 3 High Schools | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) | Pine View School (Osprey) Design and Architecture Senior High School (Miami) Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) | Bolles School (Jacksonville) Berkeley Preparatory School (Tampa) American Heritage School (Plantation) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Jackson Academy (Jackson) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) Heritage Academy (Columbus) | Ransom Everglades School (Coconut Grove) Pine Crest School (Fort Lauderdale) Gulliver Prep (Miami) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County School District Clinton Public School District Petal School District | Sarasota County Schools St. Johns County School District Okaloosa County Schools |
How Much Do Mississippi to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 732 miles from Mississippi to Florida will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- 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 | $1,617 | 300 ft3 | $5.39 |
1 Bedroom | $2,404 | 450 ft3 | $5.34 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,969 | 750 ft3 | $5.29 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,766 | 1100 ft3 | $5.24 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,307 | 1600 ft3 | $5.19 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,255 | 1800 ft3 | $5.14 |
Top Mississippi to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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