Cost of Living in Miami

We know very well that emigrating to another country is not easy and involves many questions and doubts on various issues.
When we started to offer legal advice, so that individuals and families could emigrate to the United States, one of the recurring questions we received at our immigration office is “How much does it cost to live in Miami?”
Next, we will leave some essential examples so that you can know more about the cost of living in Miami and what you have to pay and how much the approximate amount is.

Buying vs Renting

The first thing you should ask yourself is “Do I want to rent or buy a property?” 

Usually when a person or family decides to emigrate to the United States, they initially rent a property. In this way, you have the possibility of knowing the area, schools, jobs, and other essential issues that each family wants to have and enjoy. For example, living near the beach or an urban center.
The rental cost may vary depending on the area where the property is located. For a typical family of 4, in an inexpensive area, the rent for a 2-bedroom apartment can range from $ 1,500 to $ 2,300 per month.
The rentals are 1-year contracts, and are usually renewed 2 months before the end of said contract. During the year, you can take advantage of visiting different areas to find out which ones you like according to your personal preferences. 

Here you can see some options so that you have references: Zillow

I invite you to read our article about what are the basic requirements to work in the United States if you have not read it! Here

Main Expenses

In addition to the expenses of the property where you will be living, to fully understand the cost of living in Miami, you should consider the following expenses designed for a typical family (4 people).

It is important to understand the expenses to avoid getting surprises!

Electricity: The average family living in a rented two-bedroom apartment can spend $ 50 to $ 120 on electricity each month. While people who share the house can spend between $ 35 to $ 50 per month on electricity.

Water: Usually you spend between $ 50 and $ 80 dollars. The price will always depend on the amount of consumption and if the apartment has only 1 bathroom or more, a dishwasher, or a washing machine inside.

Cellular: The basic maintenance of a telephone line oscillates around $ 45 per month. It has unlimited minutes and internet.

Car: You can choose to buy a car or to start a lease for 3 or 4 years. Car insurance varies by model and can cost from $40 per month to approximately $200 depending on the make, model and year of the car.

Gasoline: Gasoline is charged per gallon and its average cost is $2.50. Each gallon equals 3.5 liters of fuel.

Bus: The ticket costs $1.25 per trip and you can buy a pass that allows you to take two transports with an additional $0.25.

Education: Miami-Dade County Public Schools offer free education to all children and adolescents without distinction. In addition, there are also private schools where the average annual tuition for children in grades 1-5 in Miami-Dade is approximately $ 11,000. As a high school student, the annual tuition could be $ 14,000 annually.

Food: A family of four, two adults and two children spend approximately $ 90 to $ 150 a week in the supermarket. It depends on the brands and quantity of products you buy. Using discount coupons and shopping at stores that offer regular deals helps you save a monthly percentage of groceries. Single people or married couples without children can spend between $ 50 to $ 75 per week.

Cinema: If you are a person who likes to go to the cinema and enjoy a movie on the big screen, the entrance per person costs around $ 14 dollars.

We hope that this information will be useful to you when planning your emigration to the United States. From our law firm we can provide you with more information about different costs that you may have to face.

Do not hesitate to come to us with all your concerns. We are here to help you.
We invite you to visit our page Vargas Law Group