Where Should You Live in Florida? Find Your Florida
Updated: Sep 13
So, you’ve decided you want to move to Florida.
Excellent. One decision down.
Now for the slightly more complicated one: where in Florida are you actually going to live?
Because “I want to move to Florida” sounds wonderfully simple until you realize Florida is big—and living in Miami is a completely different experience from living in Naples, Tampa, Orlando, or a smaller coastal town like Vero Beach.
You might picture palm trees, sunshine, and weekends near the water no matter where you land, but the lifestyle, pace, cost, housing, traffic, airport access, and overall feel can change dramatically from one part of the state to another.
So before you start scrolling through homes and accidentally fall in love with a kitchen in a city you know absolutely nothing about, it helps to figure out what kind of Florida life you're actually looking for.
Here are 10 places worth considering—and a few things to think about as you narrow down which one feels most like your Florida.
First: What Kind of Florida Life Do You Want?
Before comparing cities, forget about the map for a second and think about your actual day-to-day life.
Do you want a walkable downtown with restaurants and nightlife nearby? Would you rather have a quieter coastal community where things move a little slower? Is being near a major airport important? Do you need access to a larger job market? Are you dreaming about boating and beaches—or do you care more about entertainment, shopping, sports, and things to do?
And then there's the question that tends to bring everyone back to reality: what does your budget look like?
A few things worth putting on your personal Florida wish list:
Beach and water access
Home prices and overall cost of living
Big-city energy vs. small-town atmosphere
Airport access and travel
Restaurants, shopping and nightlife
Outdoor recreation and boating
Job opportunities
Schools and family activities
Walkability
New construction vs. established neighborhoods
HOA or condo living vs. more flexibility
How much traffic you're willing to tolerate
You don't need to know exactly what you want yet. That's the whole point of comparing.
WHICH PART OF FLORIDA FEELS LIKE YOU?
You don’t have to narrow it down alone. Tell me what matters most—budget, beach access, pace of life, space, walkability, whatever’s on your list—and I’ll help you figure out where I’d start looking.
So let's take a little trip around Florida 🌴
ORLANDO
For Entertainment, Convenience + Central Florida Living
Orlando is probably best known for one very obvious thing—yes, that mouse—but there's much more to living here than theme parks.
Because it's in Central Florida rather than directly on the coast, Orlando can make sense for someone who wants access to a large metro area, plenty of restaurants and entertainment, a major airport, employment opportunities, and a huge variety of communities to choose from.
The tradeoff? If your Florida fantasy involves walking out your front door and being minutes from the Atlantic or Gulf, Orlando isn't going to give you that coastal lifestyle.
Consider Orlando if: you want big-city amenities, lots to do, strong travel access, and don't need to live directly on the beach.
TAMPA
For Big-City Amenities Without Going Full Miami
Tampa gives you a combination that's pretty appealing for a lot of people relocating to Florida: a major metro area paired with Gulf Coast living.
There's professional sports, dining, nightlife, employment opportunities, a major airport, and easy access to surrounding communities that each have their own personality.
The broader Tampa Bay area also gives you plenty of options if you want access to the city without necessarily living right in the middle of it.
Consider Tampa if: you want a larger city, plenty happening around you, good airport access, and proximity to the Gulf.
SARASOTA
For Arts, Beaches + a Polished Gulf Coast Lifestyle
Sarasota tends to appeal to people looking for something a little more relaxed than Tampa while still wanting plenty of culture, restaurants, shopping, and things to do.
It's known for its arts scene and beautiful Gulf Coast setting, and nearby barrier islands add some seriously gorgeous beach options.
It can feel refined without having quite the same large-city intensity you'll find farther south.
Consider Sarasota if: beautiful beaches, arts and culture, dining, and an upscale-but-relaxed coastal lifestyle are high on your list.
FORT MYERS
For Gulf Coast Living + Plenty of Room to Explore
Fort Myers puts you in Southwest Florida with access to boating, beaches, waterfront recreation, and communities ranging from established neighborhoods to newer development.
It's another option for someone who wants the Southwest Florida lifestyle without necessarily choosing Naples.
You'll also be near places like Sanibel and Captiva, making the surrounding area part of the appeal—not just the city itself.
Consider Fort Myers if: you're drawn to Southwest Florida, boating and outdoor living, and want a range of housing and community options to explore.
NAPLES
For Luxury + a Seriously Polished Coastal Lifestyle
Naples is the Florida option for someone whose Pinterest board has gotten...expensive. 😂
Beautiful Gulf beaches, manicured communities, golf, upscale shopping and dining, and luxury real estate are all part of the package.
It's gorgeous, polished, and intentionally slower-paced than Florida's major metros—but that lifestyle generally comes with a higher price tag.
Consider Naples if: luxury, golf, beautiful beaches, upscale amenities, and a quieter pace matter more to you than big-city energy.
MIAMI
For Energy, Culture + Big-City Coastal Living
Miami isn't subtle.
If you're looking for nightlife, restaurants, international culture, entertainment, major events, beaches, luxury real estate, and a city that always seems to have something happening, Miami delivers.
But all that energy comes with some tradeoffs—including traffic, density, and a generally higher cost of living than many other parts of Florida.
For someone who loves city life and wants Florida layered on top of it, that may be exactly the point.
Consider Miami if: you want energy, culture, nightlife, career opportunities, international travel access, and a true major-city lifestyle.
FORT LAUDERDALE
For Waterfront Living + South Florida Energy
Fort Lauderdale offers much of the appeal of South Florida with a personality that's distinct from Miami.
The city is known for its extensive waterways, boating culture, beaches, restaurants, and waterfront living. You're also close enough to Miami to take advantage of the larger metro area without necessarily living right in the middle of it.
It still feels unmistakably South Florida—but depending on where you live, it can offer a little breathing room from Miami's intensity.
Consider Fort Lauderdale if: boating, waterfront living, beaches, restaurants, and access to South Florida amenities sound like your kind of life.
WEST PALM BEACH
For a Lively Downtown + Palm Beach County Living
West Palm Beach combines coastal South Florida with a lively downtown, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and convenient access to the surrounding Palm Beaches.
It's a good one to explore if you like the amenities of South Florida but aren't convinced you want to go as far south—or as big—as Fort Lauderdale or Miami.
And having Palm Beach just across the Intracoastal certainly doesn't hurt.
Consider West Palm Beach if: you want restaurants, shopping, entertainment, coastal access, and South Florida energy in a somewhat smaller package.
PORT ST. LUCIE
For Space, Growth + a More Suburban Treasure Coast Lifestyle
Now we're entering Treasure Coast territory. 👀
Port St. Lucie is one of Florida's larger cities by population, but its day-to-day feel is much more suburban than somewhere like Miami or Tampa.
You'll find newer communities, golf, parks, plenty of residential development, and access to the water without the same major-metro environment of South Florida.
Its location also puts you between the quieter communities farther north and Palm Beach County to the south.
Consider Port St. Lucie if: you want more of a suburban lifestyle, newer communities and homes, room to spread out, and access to the Treasure Coast.
VERO BEACH
For Coastal Charm + a Slower Pace
Oh look. We somehow ended up here. 😏
Vero Beach sits along Florida's Treasure Coast and offers a very different version of Florida living from the state's larger metros.
Rather than skyscrapers and sprawling entertainment districts, you'll find beautiful beaches, a charming barrier island, locally owned restaurants and shops, arts and culture, boating and outdoor recreation, and a community that still feels relatively small.
Ocean Drive has that quintessential coastal-town feel, while mainland Vero offers everything from established neighborhoods to newer communities and larger properties.
It's quieter. It's less flashy. And for the right person, that's exactly why it works.
You're also within driving distance of larger South Florida destinations without having to live in the middle of them.
Consider Vero Beach if: you want beaches, local character, a smaller coastal community, outdoor living, and a slower pace without giving up everyday conveniences.
And yes, I may be slightly biased about this one. 😉
Gulf Coast vs. Atlantic Coast: Does It Matter?
Absolutely—and not necessarily because one is “better.”
Florida's Gulf Coast tends to attract people who love its calmer waters, sunsets, boating lifestyle, and communities like Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Naples.
The Atlantic side includes everything from the Treasure Coast to the much denser South Florida corridor, so you'll find an enormous range—from quiet Vero Beach to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.
The right coast really comes down to the lifestyle you want.
And if you're not sure? Visit both.
Spend more than an afternoon there if you can. Drive through neighborhoods. Go to the grocery store. Sit in traffic at 5 p.m. Grab coffee somewhere local. Explore on a completely ordinary Tuesday.
Vacationing somewhere and living somewhere are two very different things.
Don't Choose Your Florida City Based on the Beach Alone
Listen, I understand the temptation. 😂
But when you're relocating, the beach is only one piece of your everyday life.
Think about the boring stuff, too—the things you'll actually interact with week after week.
Where will you buy groceries? How far is the airport? What kind of home can you comfortably afford? What are the neighborhoods like? How far are you from healthcare, restaurants, shopping, work, family, or whatever else matters to you?
If you're buying a home, there are Florida-specific considerations too: homeowners insurance, flood zones, roofs, hurricane protection, property taxes, HOA or condo fees, and maintenance in our lovely subtropical climate.
The prettiest city on Instagram isn't necessarily the city where you'll be happiest on a random Wednesday in August.
You're not choosing a vacation. You're choosing a life.
Give Yourself Permission to Change Your Mind
This may be the most important part.
You can start absolutely convinced you're moving to Naples and end up falling in love with Sarasota.
You can think you need Miami and realize you'd rather visit Miami.
You can assume you want a huge city and discover that what you actually wanted was easy beach access, a favorite neighborhood coffee shop, and significantly fewer people honking at you. 😂
That's not wasted research. That's the process working.
The goal isn't to pick a city as quickly as possible.
It's to understand your options well enough that when somewhere finally feels right, you know why.
Found Your Florida?
Maybe one of these places already feels like the one. Maybe you're still narrowing it down. Either way, choosing where to land is half the fun.
And when all that research eventually leads you back to the Treasure Coast... 😏
I'll be right here to help you figure out the rest—from narrowing down the right area and finding a home to planning the move itself.
ASHLEY CANNARD, REALTOR® | REAL BROKER, LLC | VERO BEACH, FLORIDA | ASHLEYCANNARD.COM
Comments