Moving From New York to Miami: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

Between the price, the crime, and all those crazies, New York isn’t what it used to be. People are moving out (and somehow those property prices stay sky-high). Had enough? We get it. Let’s get you someplace with great weather and all those big-city vibes you’re so used to.

Miami! Now we’re talkin’. The Magic City is growing, and more and more people are calling Florida their new home. It’s got the beaches, the clubs, the Dolphins, and a whole lot more. But how are you gonna get there in the first place? Simple: Use iMoving.

iMoving is the only platform that lets you shop for movers, compare their prices, and book a move without leaving the comfort of your phone or laptop.

The other guys make you deal with in-home visits and phone interviews. Not us. We’re here to make it easy. Just tell us more about your move, and we’ll connect you with the movers you need.

Still on the fence? Let’s take a look at what you can expect on a moving day…

It’ll cost you between $2,000 to $5,000 to move from New York to Miami. It’s a pretty big window - and we’ve seen a few odd moves that were a little cheaper or more expensive - but it covers most of the bases.

When it comes to long-distance moving, most of your price comes down to how far you’re traveling, and how much stuff you’re transporting. 

There isn’t much you can do about the distance between New York and Miami. That’s 1,291.9 miles, according to the fine folks at Google Maps. And you can bet your movers will charge for every single one of those miles on a moving day.

Fortunately, you can save some money when it comes to the physical size of your move. Downsize as much as possible before shopping for quotes. Long distance movers will assign a weight (in pounds) or a volume (in cubic feet) to all of your items, so if you don’t want it, don’t pay to move it!

A long distance move usually takes between 1 and 21 days. However, since you’re looking at the New York to Miami route, it’ll be a 4-day minimum. Under federal law, drivers can’t log more than 400 miles of interstate transport per day. New York to Miami is almost 1,400 miles.

Much like the price of the move, the duration also comes down to the amount of miles, and the amount of stuff. But just because you’re moving a studio apartment doesn’t mean your move will get done faster. Actually, it may take longer.

Moving companies try to avoid empty space in a truck or trailer. For better fuel (and cost) efficiency, they’ll take several moves on the same route, and bundle them in the same truck. Everything stays separate and secure, but there’ll be some delays for pickups and dropoffs along the way.

Why does moving cost so much? $2,000 to $5,000 can be pretty steep. But if you understand all the factors behind the price, you can also take some steps to save some money. Let’s take a look at what goes into your moving estimate:

1. Distance

As we mentioned earlier, the distance of an interstate move is probably the biggest factor behind your price. More miles, more money. Unfortunately, New York and Miami are almost 1,300 miles apart, but at least you’re not dealing with something crazy like Maine to California, or Seattle to the Keys.

2. Weight/Volume

Neck-and-neck with distance is the physical size of your move. If you have a lot of stuff to load up into the truck, it’s going to come out of your wallet.

Movers will usually assign a weight (in pounds) or a volume (in cubic feet) to all of your belongings. Our advice? Get rid of anything you don’t want before you shop for quotes. Sell it, donate it, junk it - just don’t pay to move it.

3. Packing Services

Packing is one of those add-ons that seems optional, but only if you’re a real masochist. Doing your own packing is pretty much a one-way ticket to crying on the floor before going back to Home Depot for more boxes.

Take it from us: packing services are worth the money. Your movers can handle the bubble wrap, and you can sit back, relax, and not waste all your time.

4. Custom Moving

We’ve seen it all, from vintage motorcycles to collections of anime figurines. Sometimes at the same apartment. We’re not going to judge you for your fragile, breakables, or bulky items, and neither will your movers. But you may want to shell out a little extra for custom crating and hoisting to keep everything safe!

5. Access Fees

Here’s a fun activity: Go outside. Seriously. Walk from your front door to the street, and take notes about all the obstacles you had to deal with.

Any elevators? Flights of stairs? Long hallways? Gates? These are all obstacles your movers will have to deal with, too. Access fees are unavoidable, but you should still call up your moving company ahead of time so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises.

6. Shuttles

Long-distance movers typically use big rigs for long-haul transportation. These are those big ol’ semi-trucks you see on the highway. They’re great on the open road, but not so great in the city. In fact, some cities don’t let these trucks park on their streets at all. In these cases, your movers will have to park the main truck out in the sticks, and use a smaller box truck or moving van to ferry your belongings back and forth. Not cheap, not convenient, and courtesy of city hall.

7. Insurance

Sometimes it happens. Things get dinged up on long-distance moves, and sadly, damaged items are a fact of life in the moving industry. Movers offer basic insurance coverage, but it’s only good for $0.60 per pound. How much does a PS5 weigh, like 10 pounds? Think it’s worth more than $6.00? You better shell out a little extra for full-value insurance.

8. Tips

Yes, inflation is ruining everyone’s lives. Those “30%, 40%, and 50%” tip options are unacceptable. Y’know what’s also unacceptable? Shafting your movers.

They’re doing some seriously hard work, and it takes a lot more elbow grease to load up a piano than to turn an iPad around at a cafe. Don’t be cheap. 15% to 20% is a good amount, to be split up across your whole moving crew.

New York has it all, so why move to Miami? Everyone’s got their own reasons, but here are some of the most common excuses to move to the Magic City:

• The weather: You’re moving from New York. The weather’s gonna be better ANYWHERE else. “Oh, but it’s really great during the spring-” Shut up nerd Miami gets like 250 days of sunshine per year lmao

• The cost of living: The cost of living in New York is psychotically high. The cost of living in Miami is still pretty high, but it’s a lot less than in NYC. If you’re paying out the nose for rent, you may as well pay to live somewhere nice.

• It’s less crowded: Miami also has a much smaller population than New York City. Plus, it’s more spread out. Yes, you’ll have to learn how to drive, but all your New York friends will be impressed when you pick them up at the airport in your fancy convertible.

• It’s a different vibe: New York is all go-go-go. Miami… well, it’s still go-go-go, but it the lifestyle is much different. New Yorkers live to work. Miami folks work to live. You may be moving from one city to another, but they couldn’t be more different.

• Politics (kinda): New York is deep blue. Miami and the rest of Florida is a little bit more purple. If the policies of New York City are a little too radical for you, Miami might be more your speed. Just don’t vote for the same crap you’re trying to get away from.

Miami is a wild place, and there’s plenty to do. You’re going to find your own niche, but when you first arrive, you’ll wanna try a few of these:

• Go to the beach: You’re gonna move to Miami and not visit the beach? Impossible. Miami’s beaches are legendary, and they aren’t far from the clubs, either. Catch some sun, and hop on in - the water’s fine.

• Lock & Load Museum: You aren’t in New York anymore. Time to celebrate by shooting a machine gun. Miami has tons of other museums (the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a fan favorite), but they don’t call it “the Gunshine State” for nothing. AMERICA!

• Sporting events: Of course, there’s the Marlins, the Dolphins, and the Heat. But there’s also Casino Miami in case you want to check out some Jai Alai. It’s a lot more dangerous than you’d expect, which only adds to the excitement.

• Outdoor activities: The Everglades are a short drive away, and the Keys would make a good day trip. You can hop in one of those airboats for some gator-spotting, or head to Biscayne National Park, too. There’s a lot of nature to see, and the weather permits it.

• Party down: Miami has a reputation as a wild city. Y’know, in case you didn’t pick that up from the machine gun museum, the alligators, Little Havana in general, and all the c…UBAN COFFEE everyone’s doing. It’s time to party, and Miami’s the place for it.

New York to Miami is a big move, but with the right guidance, you can get it done easier than ever. Now that you’ve met our favorite movers and learned a little more about your new hometown, it’s time to get packed and get on the road!

At iMoving, we’re all about making your move easy and efficient. That’s why we’ve got over 1000 verified movers in our marketplace, and they’re all just a few clicks away. Ready to get started? Tell us more about your move, and let’s move to Miami!