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MIA

Miami

Florida, United States

Arriving, settling in and working in Miami: what official sources say, in the order you’ll need it. Every point links to the page it came from.

Plan my move to MiamiRead the guide ↓
Photo: Everaldo Coelho / Unsplash
Guide sections12
Sourced facts63
Last verified1 Nov 2026
Areas with rent8

Decide

Is this the right city for us?

Miami at a glance

The basics about Miami, plus official sources for time, weather, tax and living costs.

  • Miami uses Eastern Time. In 2026, daylight saving time ran from 8 March to 1 November; clocks change at 2 a.m.
    nist.gov ↗
  • For official forecasts, weather warnings and tropical storm and hurricane updates, use the National Weather Service office for Miami - South Florida.
    weather.gov ↗
  • Florida does not have a personal income tax.
    floridarevenue.com ↗
  • Sales tax in Miami-Dade County is 7%: the 6% state rate plus a 1% county surtax.
    controller.fiu.edu ↗
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  • Zumper's rent data for Miami, FL lists an average of $2,500 a month for a 1-bedroom and $2,900 for a 2-bedroom (page updated 31 October 2026).
    zumper.com ↗
External links
NWS Miami - South Florida ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Laws and customs

Everyday Florida and Miami-Dade rules that often surprise newcomers.

  • Most goods and services in Miami-Dade are taxed at 7%. Commercial property rentals have been exempt since 1 October 2025.
    controller.fiu.edu ↗
  • Call 911 to report a crime or an emergency. Miami-Dade County says its police will not detain you for reporting a crime.
    www8.miamidade.gov ↗
  • For mental health support, call, text or chat 988. It is free, confidential and open 24/7.
    988lifeline.org ↗
  • For immigration legal advice, go only to a lawyer or a representative accredited by the US Department of Justice. Report people offering improper immigration services to the Florida Bar on 866-352-0707.
    www8.miamidade.gov ↗
Show 1 more
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Arrive

The first 72 hours

Arriving in Miami

Getting from MIA into the city, and your first admin steps.

  • From the terminal, take the MIA Mover from level 3 (between the Dolphin and Flamingo garages) to the Miami Intermodal Center, where Metrorail, Metrobus and Tri-Rail connect.
    miami-airport.com ↗
  • The Metrorail Orange Line runs from the airport station to stations including Earlington Heights, Government Center, Brickell and Dadeland North. EASY Card vending machines are in the Miami Intermodal Center.
    miami-airport.com ↗
  • Metrobus routes serving the airport include the 37, 42, 57, J, 150 (Miami Beach Airport Express) and the East-West Connection.
    miami-airport.com ↗
  • If you are not a US citizen, you must report each change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. A US Postal Service change of address does not update USCIS. A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors are exempt.
    uscis.gov ↗
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  • If your Social Security number was not requested with your visa or green card application, the SSA suggests waiting 10 days after arrival before you apply, so your documents can be verified.
    ssa.gov ↗
External links
Getting from MIA by public transit ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Getting around

Metrorail, Metrobus, Metromover and fares.

  • A Metrobus ride costs $2.25 ($1.10 discount fare) and Metro Express or Inter-County Express buses cost $2.65 (fare guide, February 2026). Metromover in downtown Miami is free.
    miamidade.gov ↗
  • Miami-Dade approved a 50-cent rise in Metrorail and Metrobus fares, taking the standard one-way fare to $2.75 from 1 January 2027.
    wlrn.org ↗
  • Pay by tapping a contactless card or phone, or with an EASY Card ($2 to buy). Contactless rides are capped at $5.65 a day for one passenger.
    miamidade.gov ↗
  • Bus-to-bus transfers are free within three hours of your first tap. Transfers only work with contactless, an EASY Card or an EASY Ticket; cash riders pay full fare every time.
    miamidade.gov ↗
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  • Passes: 1-day $5.65, 7-day $29.25 and 1-month $112.50. A regional monthly pass covering Miami-Dade Transit and Tri-Rail costs $155.
    miamidade.gov ↗
  • Discount fares are available to Medicare recipients, most people with disabilities and local K–12 students with a discount EASY Card.
    miamidade.gov ↗
External links
Transit fare guide (Miami-Dade) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Settle

Home, school, doctor, bank

Neighbourhoods and housing

Florida deposit rules and local rents.

  • Florida law does not cap how much a landlord can take as a security deposit or advance rent.
    flsenate.gov ↗
  • When you move out, a landlord who isn't claiming anything must return your deposit within 15 days.
    flsenate.gov ↗
  • A landlord who wants to keep part of the deposit must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days of you moving out, or loses the right to claim it.
    flsenate.gov ↗
  • You then have 15 days from receiving that notice to object in writing.
    flsenate.gov ↗
Show 1 more
  • On Zumper, Brickell and Edgewater average about $3,500 for a 1-bedroom, while Little Haiti and East Little Havana average $1,600 to $1,700 (pages updated October–November 2026).
    zumper.com ↗
External links
Zumper Miami rent data ↗Florida deposit law (s. 83.49) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Schools

Enrolling children in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

  • Children can enrol in public school regardless of immigration status, at any point in the school year.
    www8.miamidade.gov ↗
  • To register, bring a government-issued proof of your child's age, proof of your address (with a Statement of Bonafide Residence, form FM-7444), a Florida Certificate of Immunization (DH-680) and a school-entry physical.
    api.dadeschools.net ↗
  • If you don't have proof of age at first, the principal can enrol your child temporarily and give you 30 calendar days to bring it.
    api.dadeschools.net ↗
  • Free school-entry vaccines are available from the Florida Department of Health Special Immunization Unit on (786) 845-0550.
    api.dadeschools.net ↗
Show 3 more
  • A child must turn 5 on or before 1 September to start kindergarten that school year.
    api.dadeschools.net ↗
  • The 2026-27 school year started on 13 August 2026. Fall recess for Thanksgiving is 23 to 25 November 2026.
    news.dadeschools.net ↗
  • Head Start offers free early education for eligible children from birth to age 5. Call 786-469-4622.
    www8.miamidade.gov ↗
External links
Registration parent guide (M-DCPS) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Healthcare

Health insurance and low-cost care in Miami-Dade.

  • Florida uses HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from 1 November 2026 to 15 January 2027; enrol by 15 December for cover from 1 January.
    healthcare.gov ↗
  • Moving can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, so you can sign up outside open enrollment.
    healthcare.gov ↗
  • Florida KidCare is the state's low-cost health insurance for children from birth to age 18. Apply online or call 1-888-540-5437.
    healthykids.org ↗
  • Jackson Health System gives critical and emergency care to anyone, regardless of ability to pay.
    jacksonhealth.org ↗
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  • Miami-Dade residents can apply to Jackson for financial help on a sliding scale up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. Citizenship and immigration status are among the factors used. Call 305-585-1111.
    jacksonhealth.org ↗
  • Jackson's Prime Card and Clinic Card are not health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Jackson's Healthcare Advisors answer marketplace questions on 305-585-2222.
    jacksonhealth.org ↗
External links
HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines ↗Florida KidCare ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Banking and ID

Social Security numbers, tax IDs, bank accounts and a Florida ID card.

  • Noncitizens can usually get a Social Security number only if DHS has authorised them to work. Applying is free; you start online and then visit a Social Security office within 45 days with original documents.
    ssa.gov ↗
  • If you are not eligible for a Social Security number but need a US tax number, apply for an ITIN using IRS Form W-7.
    irs.gov ↗
  • To open a bank account you usually need photo ID (some banks accept a foreign passport or consular ID), proof of address and an SSN or ITIN. Without an SSN or ITIN you may only be able to open a no-interest account.
    files.consumerfinance.gov ↗
  • Bank deposits are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category, at each insured bank.
    fdic.gov ↗
Show 1 more
  • A Florida ID card costs $25 at a driver licence office; most Tax Collector offices add a $6.25 service fee.
    flhsmv.gov ↗
External links
SSN for noncitizens (SSA) ↗Opening a bank account (CFPB) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Driving and cars

Florida licences, insurance and registering a car.

  • Once you become a Florida resident, you must get a Florida driver licence within 30 days. Starting work, enrolling children in public school or living here more than six months in a row can make you a resident.
    flhsmv.gov ↗
  • You must get Florida insurance, title and registration for your vehicle within 10 days of becoming a resident. Buy cover from an agent licensed in Florida.
    flhsmv.gov ↗
  • Apply for your licence in person at a local driver licence office. You will take a vision test, and you may not need a written or road test. The documents you need depend on your residency status.
    flhsmv.gov ↗
  • A first Class E licence costs $48; most Tax Collector offices add a $6.25 service fee.
    flhsmv.gov ↗
Show 1 more
  • To register a car brought from another state, its VIN must be physically checked by a police officer, a licensed Florida dealer, a tax collector employee or a compliance examiner.
    flhsmv.gov ↗
External links
New Florida residents (FLHSMV) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Where people live in Miami

Average rent a month from official or market surveys, as of 1 Nov 2026. Asking rents for new listings are often higher.

Brickell

Central Miami
1 bedroom$3,500
2 bedroom$5,000
SinglesCouplesNear the centreGood transit
Source: Brickell rent prices — Zumper ↗

Downtown Miami

Central Miami
1 bedroom$3,000
2 bedroom$4,200
SinglesCouplesNear the centreGood transit
Source: Downtown Miami rent prices — Zumper ↗

Edgewater

North of Downtown
1 bedroom$3,500
2 bedroom$5,000
CouplesSinglesNear the centre
Source: Edgewater rent prices — Zumper ↗

Wynwood

North of Downtown
1 bedroom$3,166
2 bedroom$4,500
SinglesNightlife
Source: Wynwood rent prices — Zumper ↗

Coral Way

Southwest Miami
1 bedroom$2,300
2 bedroom$2,900
FamiliesCouplesQuiet
Source: Coral Way rent prices — Zumper ↗

East Little Havana

West of Downtown
1 bedroom$1,700
2 bedroom$2,200
Lower rentNear the centre
Source: East Little Havana rent prices — Zumper ↗

West Little Havana

West of Downtown
1 bedroom$1,750
2 bedroom$2,300
Lower rentFamilies
Source: West Little Havana rent prices — Zumper ↗

Little Haiti

North Miami
1 bedroom$1,600
2 bedroom$2,250
Lower rent
Source: Little Haiti rent prices — Zumper ↗

Zumper's average asking rent per month for 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom rentals listed on Zumper, from each neighbourhood page's rent table (pages updated 12 Oct to 1 Nov 2026). Asking rents for new listings, not existing-lease rents..

Thrive

Work, study, belong

Jobs and work

Minimum wage in Florida.

  • Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on 30 September 2026.
    lowndes-law.com ↗
  • The minimum cash wage for tipped workers is $11.98 an hour, because employers can count up to $3.02 of tips.
    lowndes-law.com ↗
  • The next change is due on 1 January 2028, when the rate is adjusted for inflation. After that it is reviewed every year.
    lowndes-law.com ↗
  • If the federal minimum wage is ever higher than Florida's, the federal rate applies.
    lowndes-law.com ↗
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Universities

Major universities and help for international students.

  • The University of Miami dates from 1926. Its main campus is in Coral Gables, with a medical campus at the UM/Jackson Memorial complex and a marine campus on Virginia Key.
    msmf.as.miami.edu ↗
  • Florida International University (FIU), the public research university, had about 54,500 students in fall 2024.
    admissions.fiu.edu ↗
  • FIU's main Modesto A. Maidique Campus in western Miami-Dade opened in 1972; its Biscayne Bay Campus opened in 1977.
    admissions.fiu.edu ↗
  • A college transit pass on Miami-Dade Transit costs $56.25 a month.
    miamidade.gov ↗
Show 1 more
  • International students accepted by an SEVP-certified school have further steps to take before entering the US. The SEVP Response Center is on 703-603-3400, weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
    studyinthestates.dhs.gov ↗
External links
Study in the States (DHS) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Communities and support

Where to get free help and connect with others.

  • Miami-Dade's Office of New Americans offers free consultations on legal immigration questions, citizenship workshops and referrals to free or low-cost legal help. Call 305-636-1010.
    www8.miamidade.gov ↗
  • The Office of New Americans also refers people to language support and civics classes.
    miamidade.gov ↗
  • Library cards are free for most Miami-Dade residents. Bring a photo ID with your date of birth (a passport or permanent resident card works) and proof of address dated within two months.
    mdpls.org ↗
  • A library card lets you borrow books, eBooks, Wi-Fi hotspots and Chromebooks. Online applications are usually reviewed within 24 hours.
    mdpls.org ↗
Show 1 more
  • Free food is available at locations across Miami-Dade; the Office of New Americans lists them.
    www8.miamidade.gov ↗
External links
Office of New Americans ↗Get a library card (MDPLS) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

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