Moving from Long Beach, CA to Miami, FL

A 2734 mi cross-country move between Long Beach and Miami is 48h 6m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 8 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

2734 mi Β· 48h 6m by car Β· CA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ LA β†’ MS β†’ AL β†’ FL

COL +0.5% Home values -32.4% Ξ” +11.2Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2734 mi
Drive time
48h 6m
States
8
Fuel (25 mpg)
109 gal
Route throughCA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ LA β†’ MS β†’ AL β†’ FL
Primary highwaysI 10, US 180, TX 130
Major cities en routeLos Angeles, Glendale, Torrance, Pasadena, Downey

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

Long BeachMiamiU.S. avg
All items (RPP)113.566114.155100.0
Rents158.58997.235100.0
Goods106.623103.556100.0
Services170.433155.551100.0

Long Beach and Miami sit within 5% on the overall BEA RPP β€” the composite diff is small, but rent or groceries alone may move more.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Long Beach β€” typical home
$857,861
Miami β€” typical home
$579,564
Long Beach β€” typical rent
$2,277/mo
Miami β€” typical rent
$3,001/mo

Zillow ZHVI drops from $857,861 in Long Beach to $579,564 in Miami, a 0.5% decrease on the typical home value.

YoY change: Long Beach +0.5%, Miami -2.0%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsLong BeachMiami
Annual avg temperature65Β°F76Β°F
January avg low47Β°F61Β°F
July avg high81Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”0.0"
Annual precipitation12.0"57.2"

Annual temperature rises 11.2Β°F moving to Miami per NOAA normals.

Snowfall is a non-factor at the destination: Miami sees under an inch a year per NOAA normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: LONG BEACH DAUGHERTY FLD, CA US, MIAMI BEACH, FL US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023Long BeachMiami
Population458,491446,663
Median household income$83,969$59,390
Median age36.839.7
Bachelor's degree or higher22.3%21.5%
Avg household size2.682.35

Miami households earn about 0.5% less than Long Beach at the median β€” $83,969 β†’ $59,390 on ACS 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Long Beach MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
Miami MSA β€” median wage
$46,510
Long Beach MSA β€” employment
6,185,570
Miami MSA β€” employment
2,721,490

Top occupations in Miami MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 393,730 $41,640
Sales and Related Occupations 306,440 $37,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 261,940 $30,720
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 239,610 $37,610
Business and Financial Operations Occupations 194,910 $77,760

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Florida

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Florida income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Florida's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Pack rain gear on top: Miami averages 57.2 in of annual precipitation β€” waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
  • You are moving to a noticeably warmer climate (11.2Β°F higher annual average). Keep summer clothing accessible and consider donating or storing heavy winter gear.
  • Hurricane season runs June through November β€” stock a basic emergency kit (water, flashlight, battery radio) during unpack.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Florida after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How far is Miami, FL from Long Beach, CA?

The driving distance is 2734 mi and the route typically takes 48h 6m via I 10 and US 180. The trip crosses 8 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does the job market in Miami compare to Long Beach?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $46,510 in the Miami MSA vs $50,490 in the Long Beach MSA, on total employment of 2,721,490 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How much do homes cost in Miami compared to Long Beach?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $579,564 in Miami vs $857,861 in Long Beach β€” a 32.4% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Miami more expensive than Long Beach?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Miami is 0.5% higher than Long Beach (114.155 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does household income compare in Long Beach vs Miami?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $59,390 in Miami vs $83,969 in Long Beach β€” a 29.3% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

When is the best time to move from Long Beach to Miami?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2734 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Long Beach.

City profiles: Long Beach, CA Β· Miami, FL.

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