North Carolina to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 668 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricane risk vs milder winters), food & health (like Pulled pork BBQ vs Key lime pie), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs mediterranean, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled pork BBQ and Eastern NC Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Key lime pie & Cuban sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 21% more expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Florida is 28.44% more expensive than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Florida will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
North Carolina to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Florida
- Hurricane risk
- Higher taxes
- Traffic congestion
- Lack of beaches
- Milder winters
- No state income tax
- Improved road infrastructure
- Beautiful beaches
- Hotter summers
- Flat landscapes
- High humidity
- Mainly touristy attractions
- Four seasons
- Mountain views
- Lower humidity
- Vibrant cultural scene
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Florida
- Say goodbye to hurricane risk and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from higher taxes and moving to Florida with no state income tax
- Swap the traffic congestion of North Carolina for improved road infrastructure in Florida
- Get ready for beautiful beaches in Florida
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from four seasons in North Carolina to live with hotter summers in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of mountain views and have to settle for the con of flat landscapes
- Time to bid farewell to lower humidity and get used to high humidity in Florida
- Swap a vibrant cultural scene for mainly touristy attractions
North Carolina vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Key lime pie |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern NC Barbecue | Cuban sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boiled peanuts | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Collard greens | Avocado toast |
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 North Carolina to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern NC Barbecue and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwich and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Avocado Toast of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Cheyenne's Kitchen, and Buxton Hall Barbecue. 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 a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida, compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Florida
Comparison | North Carolina | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Mediterranean, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, nature access | Waterfront, amenities |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Mediterranean and Modern architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and access to nature, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront properties and amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Florida is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Florida is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Florida housing costs are 21% more expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Florida is 28.44% more expensive than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Florida
Comparison | North Carolina | 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, Tropical Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 65Β°F | 90Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 70Β°F / 50Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 54" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 0" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Carolina to Florida. Florida gets 11% more sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina, 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 5 degrees warmer than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 20 degrees warmer than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 4 more inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Florida
Comparison | North Carolina | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98% | 7.05% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Tourism, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Noticeable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Prominent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 3% more than those in North Carolina
- The COLI in Florida is 2% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- Hooray, moving to Florida means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is high compared to moderate affluence in North Carolina
- The poverty level is moderate in Florida compared to noticeable poverty in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in North Carolina and prominent in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Florida
Comparison | North Carolina | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately conservative with liberal urban areas | Mixed; previously leaning conservative but becoming more battleground |
Local Politics | <a href="https://www.dncr.nc.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Civic engagement strong in urban centers</a> | Varied local political engagement |
Religion | Strong evangelical Christian presence, diverse in urban areas | High Catholic presence, with significant Jewish and Protestant communities |
- North Carolina tends to lean moderately conservative with liberal urban areas in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as mixed and previously leaning conservative but becoming more battleground
- Florida's religious environment can be described as having a high Catholic presence with significant Jewish and Protestant communities
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a strong evangelical Christian presence and being diverse in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Florida
Comparison | North Carolina | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Morrisville Elementary School (Morrisville) Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) Sterling Montessori Academy (Morrisville) | Pine View School (Osprey) A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School (Boca Raton) Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies (Cocoa Beach) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte) Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte) Community House Middle School (Charlotte) | Pine View School (Osprey) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School (Boca Raton) |
Top 3 High School Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Ardrey Kell High School (Charlotte) | Pine View School (Osprey) Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville) Design and Architecture Senior High School (Miami) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Cary Academy (Cary) | Ransom Everglades School (Coconut Grove) The Bolles School (Jacksonville) American Heritage School (Plantation) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Durham Academy (Durham) Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Cary Academy (Cary) | Ransom Everglades School (Coconut Grove) American Heritage School (Plantation) North Broward Preparatory School (Coconut Creek) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District |
How Much Do North Carolina to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 668 miles from North Carolina to Florida 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: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,344 | 300 ft3 | $4.48 |
1 Bedroom | $1,997 | 450 ft3 | $4.44 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,296 | 750 ft3 | $4.40 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,788 | 1100 ft3 | $4.35 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,896 | 1600 ft3 | $4.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,682 | 1800 ft3 | $4.27 |
Top North Carolina to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Florida