3 former Floridians explain why they left the state – DNYUZ
Kimberly Jones was born and raised in Florida and is expected to live in South Florida for the rest of her life.
But after COVID, Florida didn’t feel the same. An influx of outsiders has strained infrastructure in South Florida’s Jones area, where new construction, crowded grocery stores and traffic-clogged commutes have become the norm. The influx of newcomers has also driven up housing costs, making it harder for longtime residents to afford the place they’ve always called home.
In 2021, Jones and her husband packed up and moved to North Carolina. They are not the only ones who no longer like Florida. As people continue to settle in the state, net domestic migration — or the number of people coming from elsewhere in the country minus those moving to other parts of the United States — has gradually declined in recent years.
There are several reasons for the slowdown in numbers and the loss of appeal of Florida. For some, state tax benefits may no longer offset the rising cost of living. That was certainly the case for Jones.
“Our reasons for moving were multiple,” Jones, 60, told Business Insider. “A major factor was affordability – the cost of living in Florida had spiraled out of control. Prices rose for everything – home and auto insurance, and even for everyday expenses like groceries and dining out. These costs seemed particularly high in South Florida compared to other parts of the state.”
The Joneses found a more affordable and relaxing life in North Carolina
Jones and her husband settled in a small rural town about an hour outside Charlotte. They now live in a custom-built lakefront home on 1.5 acres — the kind of property Jones said she couldn’t have afforded in Florida.
Indeed, housing prices in Florida have continued to rise in recent years. Data from Redfin shows that the median sales price of homes in Florida increased 19% between March 2021 and March 2026, reaching $417,000.
With the state’s overall cost of living rising, many people — especially young adults, like Jones’ son — are struggling to become homeowners.
“My daughter was able to purchase a condo a few years ago when prices were lower and interest rates were still low,” Jones said. “But my son is unlikely to buy in the near future; he will rent in the near future, like most of his friends – most of my friends talk about the same thing with their children.”
In addition to more affordable housing, Jones and her husband also benefit from lower home insurance costs, as well as cheaper grocery and restaurant prices in North Carolina. But perhaps the biggest benefit of all is that the lower cost of living has allowed Jones to cut back on his work.
“My husband retired a few years ago and I was able to transition to remote work,” Jones said. “We love [North Carolina’s] a slower pace of life and the fact that people are very nice here. My quality of life – my stress level, everything – improved dramatically simply from being out of what felt like a rat race.
Natalie Alatriste left Florida in search of a like-minded community.
Natalie Alatriste is also from Florida. She remembers a time when her hometown of Miami felt sleepier and neighborhoods like Little Havana were still under the radar. Today, she says, the city feels transformed.
“There’s a pre-Covid Miami and a post-Covid Miami, and the post-Covid version is completely different,” Alatriste, 35, told Business Insider. “The cost of living has increased and so many people have moved in that traffic is still heavy. »
But it’s not just Miami’s growth that has her reconsidering her future in the state. Alatriste said Florida’s changing political landscape was also a factor in his decision.
“In 2024, I seriously started thinking about leaving not just Miami, but Florida entirely,” she said. “State politics was a turning point for me. In the presidential election, everything I voted for – the amendments, the candidates, all of it – went in the opposite direction.”
In 2025, Alatriste moved to Shirlington, a neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, about a 20-minute drive from Washington, DC. She and her partner rent a three-bedroom, three-story townhouse of about 2,500 square feet and pay about $4,350 a month. It’s still expensive, but Alatriste said sharing the costs with a partner makes it more manageable and overall makes Virginia feel more affordable.
“My quality of life is much better in Virginia. I don’t feel like I’m wasting as much time or spending as much money just to live,” she said. “I also have greater peace of mind and can breathe easier because I am part of a community that feels more aligned with my values.”
Karen Meadows wanted a more active retirement
Florida is one of the most popular retirement destinations in the country. It offers many obvious benefits, including no income tax, warm weather, and an abundance of retirement communities. But for some retirees, like Karen Meadows, life spent at the beach or poolside isn’t enough.
“A lot of people move to Florida to retire because it’s quiet and the pace of life is slower,” Meadows, 62, told Business Insider. “But for me, I wanted to move somewhere with more energy.”
In 2024, Meadows and her husband moved to New York.
“It’s funny because the first thing everyone says about our decision is, ‘Oh my God, you did the opposite,'” Meadows added, “and they’re right.”
Meadows sold her house in Panama City Beach and now lives in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Brooklyn. Even though New York seems intimidating at times, being closer to her children and living in a vibrant city was worth it.
Beyond training for marathons – including the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon, which she has run several times – she volunteers with the North Brooklyn Angels and the food rescue organization City Harvest. She also joined the North Brooklyn Runners Club and started a book club.
“I know I probably could have moved somewhere more relaxed, warmer and with lower taxes, but I love New York,” Meadows said. “I’m almost 63 and I feel better and more alive than ever. Life feels freer, I’m more engaged and there is still so much to explore.”
Are you a former Floridian? We want to hear from you. Email the reporter, Alcynna Lloyd, at [email protected] to share your story.
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The article Crowded, expensive and complicated: 3 former Floridians explain why they left the state appeared first on Business Insider.
