Short answer: the true cost of a 4-month snowbird season in Miami in 2027 — a furnished 2-bedroom from January through April for a couple, with a car, groceries and insurance — runs US$28,000–40,000 all-in, before the refundable security deposit. Rent is the headline number: US$4,500–6,000/month for a furnished 2-bedroom in Brickell or Miami Beach in peak season. The part most budgets miss is the ~13% transient rental tax Florida applies to leases of 6 months or less — on a US$22,000 seasonal rent, that is nearly US$3,000 most first-timers never see coming.
Updated: October 12, 2026.
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Moving to Miami for the winter: the full 4-month budget, line by line
This is the realistic math for a couple moving to Miami for the January–April 2027 season in a furnished 2-bedroom, based on live October 2026 listings and 2026 tax and utility rates:
| Line item | 4-month total (US$) |
|---|---|
| Rent: furnished 2BR, Brickell or Miami Beach, Jan–Apr | US$18,000–24,000 |
| Transient rental tax (~13% on leases of 6 months or less, if collected) | US$2,340–3,120 |
| Utilities (often included — budget separately if not) | US$0–920 |
| Car: long-term rental, US$549–800/month | US$2,200–3,200 |
| Groceries for two (~US$700–900/month) | US$2,800–3,600 |
| Renter’s insurance | US$60–200 |
| Dining out, golf, entertainment (discretionary) | US$1,500–2,500 |
| Total, non-refundable | US$28,000–40,000 |
On top of that, plan for a refundable security deposit of roughly one month’s rent (US$4,500–6,000) — a cash-flow item, not a cost, if you document the unit’s condition. Florida sets no legal cap on deposits, and the return deadlines are strict: our security deposit guide explains exactly how much Miami landlords can charge and when they must return it.
The rent itself: what furnished seasonal units actually cost
Live October 2026 listings set the anchor points for winter 2026–2027, and 2027 pricing follows the same structure:
- Miami Beach, furnished 2BR/2BA: a 1,455-sqft unit at 7135 Collins Ave lists at US$4,500/month for an October 2026–April 2027 seasonal term — the textbook snowbird listing.
- Brickell, furnished 2BR: US$4,550 (1100 S Miami Ave) to US$5,800 (Brickell Heights) per month.
- Brickell, furnished 1BR: about US$4,000/month — the same unit unfurnished lists at US$3,800, so the furniture premium is roughly US$200/month.
- Peak-month premium: January–March rents run 20–50% above shoulder-season pricing, per the 2026 Florida seasonal-rental industry guide.
Three quick levers move your number: booking early (we covered exactly how far ahead in how early snowbirds must book a winter rental in Miami), offering a single 4-month lease instead of split stays, and looking one tier inland from the beach for the same square footage.
Cost of living in Miami: the car question
Transportation is the second-biggest line in the cost of living in Miami for snowbirds, and the math depends on how you arrive:
- Rent a car for the season: long-term specialists start around US$549/month all-inclusive; winter demand pushes typical rates to US$549–800/month for a sedan.
- Ship your car down: the Northeast→Florida snowbird corridor runs US$984–1,475 each way (Connecticut to Florida, open carrier, 2–8 days transit per 2026 FreightWaves route data) — roughly US$2,000–3,000 round trip. Demand peaks October–December, so book 2–4 weeks ahead.
- Drive down yourself: cheapest if your schedule allows — one tank-way of gas, tolls and a hotel night versus two to three thousand in shipping.
If you are flying in from Canada, the exchange rate is its own line item: our Canadian snowbird guide breaks down what the weak loonie does to a Miami winter budget.
What most people don’t know
1. Florida taxes short seasonal leases like hotel stays. Under Florida Statute 212.03, any lease of 6 months or less is a “transient rental” subject to the 6% state sales tax plus Miami-Dade county tourist taxes — 3% Convention Development, 2% Tourist Development Room Tax, 1% Professional Sports Facilities — for roughly 12–13% on top of the rent. Airbnb and Vrbo collect it automatically; private owners are legally required to collect and remit too, though many do not know it. Always ask: “is this quote tax-inclusive?” and get the answer in writing.
2. Utilities “included” is not automatic. Many furnished seasonal listings do include utilities in the rent — but some pass them through with a cap. FPL’s benchmark residential bill for 1,000 kWh is US$136.64 in 2026 (up US$2.50 from 2025 under the approved rate case), and Miami utilities overall run US$150–230/month. If the lease passes utilities through, that is up to US$920 over the season you were not budgeting.
3. The season has two prices. January through March is the most expensive window of the year; December and April are measurably cheaper for the same unit. A December–March lease can land 10–20% below an identical January–April one — ask owners for both quotes.
4. The 183-day rule is a separate tripwire. Spending the winter in Florida changes your state-tax picture in ways that have nothing to do with rent. If you split time between states, domicile and day-count rules decide who taxes you — worth a conversation with a tax advisor before you book, not after.
Frequently asked questions
Is one 4-month lease cheaper than two 2-month stays?
Yes, almost always. Owners discount longer commitments, you pay one security deposit instead of two, and you avoid the turnover risk of a gap between stays. A single January–April lease also keeps you in one building’s guest and parking rules for the whole season.
Do I owe the transient rental tax on a private condo lease?
If the lease term is 6 months or less, Florida law treats it as a transient rental — condos included, with no exemption for private owners. Platforms collect it automatically; with a private owner, confirm in the lease whether the quoted rent includes the ~13% in taxes.
Should I ship my car or rent one for the season?
Renting a car for four months costs roughly US$2,200–3,200; shipping your own car round trip from the Northeast costs roughly US$2,000–3,000 plus wear you avoid by driving. If you need your own car with specific equipment (golf clubs, mobility gear), shipping wins; if you are flexible, a long-term rental is simpler.
When should I book a winter 2027 rental?
The best inventory for January arrivals is signed between September and November. Our Miami relocation guides hub has the full timeline piece, and the price premium for booking after Thanksgiving is real.
This article is general information about relocation planning, not tax or legal advice. Tax rates and utility prices change — confirm current figures with the Florida Department of Revenue and FPL before signing a lease.
Yara Coker — SETTLE, relocation services in Miami.
Want help with your move to Miami?
Tell us your winter window and budget — we will line up furnished seasonal options that fit the real numbers above, with tax-inclusive quotes and the deposit terms verified before you sign.
Sources
Seasonal rental listings: Zumper live listings accessed October 12, 2026 (Miami Beach 2BR seasonal US$4,500/month, Oct 2026–Apr 2027; Brickell furnished 2BR US$4,550–5,800/month; Brickell furnished 1BR US$4,000/month). Peak-season premium 20–50% Jan–Mar: Emerald Coast By Owner 2026 seasonal guide; Snowbird Advisor 2025 Travel Intention Survey (62% plan 3–6 month stays). Transient rental tax: Florida Statute 212.03 (bona fide written lease for longer than 6 months exempt); Florida Attorney General opinions on tourist development tax under Fla. Stat. 125.0104; Miami-Dade County tourist taxes (3% Convention Development, 2% Tourist Development Room Tax, 1% Professional Sports Facilities Tax; 4% Miami Beach Resort Tax within Miami Beach). Electricity: FPL approved 2026–2029 rate case — typical 1,000 kWh residential bill US$136.64 in 2026 (Florida PSC, November 2025). Utilities range: Houzeo cost of living Miami 2026 (US$150–230/month). Car rental: CarForLong Miami long-term rates (US$549/month all-inclusive; typical winter range US$549–2,000). Car shipping: FreightWaves Checkpoint 2026 (Connecticut→Florida US$984–1,475 open carrier, 2–8 days; Boston→Florida US$1,073–1,613). Groceries: Houzeo (single adult US$400–600/month), Salary.com Miami cost of living 2026.
Versión en español: Vivir en Miami el invierno de 2027: el costo real de una temporada de 4 meses como snowbird
