Pennsylvania to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,132 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like snowy winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs spanish, mediterranean), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pittsburgh Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 52% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in Florida is 49.93% more expensive than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to Florida will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Pennsylvania to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to Florida
- Snowy winters
- High state taxes
- Limited beaches
- Seasonal tourism
- Mild winters
- No state income tax
- Abundant beaches
- Year-round tourism
- Hot, humid summers
- Hurricane risk
- Tourist crowds
- Flat landscape
- Four distinct seasons
- History-rich cities
- Diverse culture
- Ample hiking opportunities
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to Florida
- Say goodbye to snowy winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from high state taxes and moving to Florida with no state income tax
- Swap the limited beaches of Pennsylvania for abundant beaches in Florida
- Get ready for year-round tourism in Florida
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from four distinct seasons in Pennsylvania to live with hot, humid summers in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of history-rich cities and have to settle for the con of hurricane risk
- Time to bid farewell to diverse culture and get used to tourist crowds in Florida
- Swap ample hiking opportunities for a flat landscape
Pennsylvania vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pittsburgh Pork | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Soft Pretzel | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Cheesesteak | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Pennsylvania to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pittsburgh Pork and sumptuous Soft Pretzel, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwich and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Cheesesteak 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 Pennsylvania eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Primanti Bros., and Zahav. 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 Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and Florida
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Spanish, Mediterranean |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Spacious backyard | Swimming pool, Waterfront access |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Spanish and Mediterranean architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and spacious backyards, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and waterfront access.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Florida is less walkable than Pennsylvania.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Florida is more bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- Florida housing costs are 52% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in Florida is 49.93% more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and Florida
Comparison | Pennsylvania | 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 | Snowstorms, Flooding | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/62 | 91/75 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37/20 | 72/53 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to Florida. Florida gets 32% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and flooding in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in Florida.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Florida is 6 degrees warmer than Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 33 degrees warmer than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and Florida
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.50% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 7.05% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Health Care, Education | Tourism, Agriculture, Real Estate |
Affluence | Moderate | Varying |
Poverty | Below Average | Averaging |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 3% less than in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in Florida will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- Hooray, moving to Florida means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is varying compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is averaging in Florida compared to below average poverty in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Pennsylvania and higher in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. Florida
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State | Swing State with a recent lean towards Republican |
Local Politics | Mixed with both urban (Democratic) and rural (Republican) influences | Diverse, with significant Cuban-American (Republican leaning) and African-American (Democratic leaning) influences |
Religion | Mainly Christian, with a mix of Protestant and Catholic communities | Primarily Christian, with a significant Catholic population and growing Jewish and Muslim communities |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean swing state in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a recent lean towards Republican
- Florida's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with a significant Catholic population and growing Jewish and Muslim communities
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Christian, with a mix of Protestant and Catholic communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to Florida
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Pennsylvania Penn State University Carnegie Mellon University | University of Florida Florida State University University of Miami |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Adlai Stevenson School Pittsburgh; Penn Alexander School Philadelphia; Hardyston Elementary School Hardyston | Pine View School Osprey; Doral Academy of Technology Doral; Somerset Academy Miramar Miramar |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School Philadelphia; Radnor Middle School Radnor; Haverford Middle School Haverford | Bak Middle School of the Arts West Palm Beach; Archimedean Middle Conservatory Miami; Doral Academy Charter Middle School Doral |
Top 3 High School Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School Philadelphia; Conestoga High School Berwyn; Central High School Philadelphia | Design and Architecture Senior High Miami; Pine View School Osprey; Stanton College Preparatory School Jacksonville |
Top 3 private high schools | The Haverford School Haverford; William Penn Charter School Philadelphia; Shady Side Academy Pittsburgh | Bolles School Jacksonville; American Heritage School Plantation; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Shipley School Bryn Mawr; Winchester Thurston School Pittsburgh; Moravian Academy Bethlehem | Ransom Everglades School Miami; North Broward Preparatory School Coconut Creek; Gulliver Prep Miami |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District South Fayette Township School District Radnor Township School District | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 1,132 miles from Pennsylvania to Florida will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2.5-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,568 | 300 ft3 | $5.23 |
1 Bedroom | $2,332 | 450 ft3 | $5.18 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,855 | 750 ft3 | $5.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,608 | 1100 ft3 | $5.10 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,089 | 1600 ft3 | $5.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,023 | 1800 ft3 | $5.01 |
Top Pennsylvania to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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