North Dakota to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 2,090 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Lefse vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (ranch vs spanish revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Bison Steak, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 57% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Florida is 117.98% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Florida will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
North Dakota to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Florida
- Harsh winters
- Limited coastline
- Remote location
- Fewer cultural events
- Less diversity
- Mild winters
- Beautiful beaches
- Easily accessible cities
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Rich cultural diversity
- Tourist congestion
- High housing costs
- Heavy traffic
- Fast-paced environment
- Higher crime rates
- Peaceful lifestyle
- Low housing costs
- Little traffic
- Small, tight communities
- Low crime rates
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Florida
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastline and moving to Florida with beautiful beaches
- Swap the remote location of North Dakota for easily accessible cities in Florida
- Get ready for a vibrant cultural scene in Florida
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a peaceful lifestyle in North Dakota to live with tourist congestion in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of low housing costs and have to settle with the con of high housing costs
- Time to bid farewell to little traffic and get used to heavy traffic in Florida
- Swap small, tight communities for a fast-paced environment
North Dakota vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Steak | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Fry Bread Tacos | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Dakota to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Bison Steak and sumptuous Fry Bread Tacos, 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 Jackfruit Tacos of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Pitchfork Steak Fondue, Kroll's Diner, and The HoDo Restaurant. 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 Benny's Seafood.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida, compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Florida
Comparison | North Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, proximity to nature | Waterfront views, swimming pools |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Revival architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and proximity to nature, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront views and swimming pools.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Florida is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Florida is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Florida housing costs are 57% more expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Florida is 117.98% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Florida
Comparison | North Dakota | 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 | Blizzards, Floods | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 57Β°F | 91Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 23Β°F / 2Β°F | 70Β°F / 49Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17.8" | 53.7" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 46" | 0" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Florida. Florida gets 18% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, 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 9 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 47 degrees warmer in Florida than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 35.9 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Florida
Comparison | North Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 2.9% - 5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.99% | 0.86% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.0% | 6.0% - 7.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing | Tourism, Agriculture, Real Estate |
Affluence | Stable | Variable |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 4% less than in North Dakota
- The COLI in Florida is 3% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- Hooray, moving to FL means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is variable compared to stable in North Dakota
- The poverty level is higher in Florida compared to moderate in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Dakota and moderate in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Florida
Comparison | North Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Mixed, leaning conservative |
Local Politics | Local government tends to mirror state-level conservativism | Varies greatly, liberal in urban areas like Miami, conservative in rural areas |
Religion | Christianity dominant, particularly Lutheran and Catholic | Diverse; Christianity dominant but with a significant Jewish community and growing numbers of non-affiliated individuals |
- North Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as mixed, leaning conservative
- Florida's religious environment can be described as diverse, with Christianity being dominant but having a significant Jewish community and growing numbers of non-affiliated individuals
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant, particularly Lutheran and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Florida
Comparison | North Dakota | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota Minot State University | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedman Elementary (Fargo) Liberty Elementary (Bismarck) Discovery Elementary (Grand Forks) | Pine View School (Osprey) Somerset Academy (Miramar) Archimedean Academy (Miami) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) Horizon Middle School (Bismarck) South Middle School (Grand Forks) | Bak Middle School of the Arts (West Palm Beach) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Pine View School (Osprey) |
Top 3 High Schools | Fargo North High School (Fargo) Century High School (Bismarck) Grand Forks Central High School (Grand Forks) | Pine View School (Osprey) School for Advanced Studies (Miami) Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Trinity High School (Dickinson) | Pine Crest School (Fort Lauderdale) Bolles School (Jacksonville) Berkeley Preparatory School (Tampa) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School (Fargo) Shiloh Christian School (Bismarck) Dakota Adventist Academy (Bismarck) | Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart (Miami) Bolles School (Jacksonville) American Heritage School (Plantation) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools Grand Forks Public Schools | Sarasota County Schools St. Johns County School District Orange County Public Schools |
How Much Do North Dakota to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 2,090 miles from North Dakota to Florida will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- 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 | $2,387 | 300 ft3 | $7.96 |
1 Bedroom | $3,559 | 450 ft3 | $7.91 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,893 | 750 ft3 | $7.86 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,589 | 1100 ft3 | $7.81 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,413 | 1600 ft3 | $7.76 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,874 | 1800 ft3 | $7.71 |
Top North Dakota to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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