Moving to Miami for 3 Months? Furnished Rentals: The Snowbird Playbook (Winter 2026–2027)

Moving to Miami for 3 months? Furnished rental living room with bay view for snowbirds, winter 2026–2027

Short answer: Moving to Miami for 3 months as a snowbird costs roughly $2,950–$5,250/month for a furnished 1-bedroom this winter (live listings on Furnished Finder and Zumper, October 2026) — so a full 3-month season runs $9,000–$16,000+ in rent alone, before the ~12% transient rental tax Florida charges on stays under 6 months (6% state sales tax + 6% Miami-Dade tourist development tax; 13% inside Miami Beach). The literal question behind this guide — “Furnished 3-month rentals in Miami: the snowbird playbook” — has one non-negotiable rule: book 9–12 months ahead. The best winter units disappear up to a year before January.

Updated: October 11, 2026.

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What a 3-month furnished rental costs in Miami for winter 2026–2027

This is the cost of living in Miami for a winter season with real, current numbers — not a national calculator. All figures below are furnished, winter-season listings (October 2026):

Unit (furnished, winter)Monthly3-month total
Furnished 1BR, Brickell (Furnished Finder / Zumper)$2,950–$5,250$8,850–$15,750
Furnished 1BR, Miami Beach (Furnished Finder)~$3,300~$9,900
Seasonal 1BR condo, Sunny Isles (agent listings)$2,990–$11,000$8,970–$33,000
Furnished 2BR, Miami mid-market (Furnished Finder)$2,700–$7,000$8,100–$21,000
Seasonal 2BR condo, Sunny Isles (agent listings)$5,990–$6,500$17,970–$19,500

Then add the transient rental tax: 6% Florida sales tax + 6% Miami-Dade tourist development tax on the total rent — roughly 12% on top of everything above (13% inside Miami Beach city limits, where the tourist tax is 7%). A $10,000 season becomes $11,200–$11,300 at signing. Seasonal listings in Sunny Isles state it outright: “13 PERCENT TAX.”

The winter premium is structural, not a blip: the federal GSA lodging per-diem for Miami hits $219/night in December–January and $244/night in February–March (FY 2027) — about 62% above the off-season rate. February and March are the peak of the peak.

Moving to Miami for 3 months: where snowbirds actually book

Three channels dominate the 3-month market, and the fee math separates them:

Furnished Miami apartment balcony with ocean view, winter morning — 3-month snowbird rental

The booking timeline: when to reserve your winter rental

For peak January–March stays, booking 9–12 months ahead is the standard guidance; premium properties disappear up to a year out, and waiting until fall for a January stay usually means missing the best homes and paying more. Two mechanics make early booking non-negotiable:

Sunny Miami residential street with palm trees and apartment buildings — moving to Miami for a winter season

Bringing your pet: the snowbird pet-policy check

If your winter includes a dog, the building’s pet policy can matter more than the rent number. Florida puts no cap on pet deposits, pet fees, or pet rent — and seasonal landlords routinely stack all three: $25–$85/month per pet in pet rent, a $100–$500 one-time pet fee (usually nonrefundable), and a $200–$500 refundable pet deposit. On a 3-month stay, that’s up to ~$750 in pet rent alone, before the 12–13% transient tax math above.

Two filters catch snowbirds off guard. Weight caps of 25–50 lbs are the norm in Miami towers, and private landlords and condo associations can legally ban breeds — the 2023 repeal of Miami-Dade’s pit bull ordinance only tied the government’s hands, not private buildings’. A 60-lb dog can disqualify an otherwise perfect winter unit.

Ask for the pet addendum before you apply — which charges, which are refundable, the breed list, the weight cap, the number of pets allowed. Get it in writing: the listing that says “pets considered” and the lease that bans them are two different documents. Our full breakdown of pet policies in Miami rentals walks through deposits, fees, breed rules, and the Miami-Dade dog license you’ll need within 30 days of arrival.

What most people don’t know

A 3-month stay is fully taxed — but a longer one may not be. Florida taxes transient rentals (6 months or less) at 6% state sales tax plus the local tourist development tax. But a written lease longer than 6 months can be exempt from both (Greenberg Traurig SALT alert, May 2023). If you’re on the fence between 3 months and a full season, the tax math deserves a real comparison.

Florida has no 183-day rule. Florida’s residency test is intent-based — Fla. Stat. §196.015 lists factors like declaration of domicile, voter registration and a Florida driver’s license, and “any one factor is not conclusive.” A 3-month winter rental does not make you a Florida resident — and with no state income tax, there’s nothing to gain from pretending otherwise.

Your security deposit has real deadlines. Under Fla. Stat. §83.49, the landlord must hold your deposit in a separate Florida bank account, return it within 15 days after you vacate (if no claim), or send a certified-mail notice of claim within 30 days — miss that window and the landlord forfeits the claim. One caution: a furnished 3-month “vacation rental” can sit in a gray zone between the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and transient lodging rules — worth confirming with counsel before you sign.

Miami Beach is 13%, not 12%. The tourist development tax is 7% inside Miami Beach (and 4% in Surfside and Bal Harbour), vs. 6% county-wide — per the Florida DOR official rate sheet. A 3-month stay on the Beach carries 6% + 7% on the rent.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay taxes on a 3-month furnished rental in Miami? Yes — roughly 12% on the total rent (6% Florida sales tax + 6% Miami-Dade tourist development tax), 13% inside Miami Beach. Leases over 6 months may be exempt.

Furnished Finder or Airbnb for a 3-month stay? Furnished Finder usually wins on fees: no booking fee for either side, direct landlord contact. Airbnb adds roughly 10.6% guest service fee on 28+ night stays, though monthly discounts can offset it. Compare the all-in numbers, not the nightly rate.

How early should I book a winter rental in Miami? 9–12 months ahead for January–March. Add 10–30 days for condo board approval to your timeline, and remember: a lease can’t close overnight in December.

Can I bring my dog on a 3-month snowbird rental in Miami? Yes — but screen the pet policy before you fall in love with the unit. Expect $25–$85/month per pet in pet rent, a $100–$500 one-time fee (usually nonrefundable), and/or a $200–$500 refundable deposit. Weight caps of 25–50 lbs and breed bans are legal in private buildings, so ask for the pet addendum in writing before you apply.

Do I need a car for a 3-month snowbird stay? In most of Miami, yes — it’s a car city. The exceptions are walkable pockets like Brickell (Metrorail/Metromover) and Miami Beach. Budget $150–250/month for parking if your building doesn’t include a space.

Yara Coker — SETTLE, relocation services in Miami.

Want help with your move to Miami?

Moving to Miami for the winter — or staying longer than 3 months? SETTLE handles the housing search, the lease review, and everything around it: we verify the building’s rental rules, flag the tax math, and negotiate before you sign, so you arrive with a place ready instead of a season of surprises. Tell us your dates and your budget:

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Versión en español: Vivir en Miami por 3 meses: rentas amobladas, la guía del snowbird

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