San Diego vs Miami – where should you live?

Our surroundings tend to have an effect on our outlooks, success and overall happiness more than most are aware of. Those who are, however, try their best to choose the perfect city that will suit their personality as well as future aspirings. Individuals who love beaches and warm weather have undoubtedly come across two cities when conducting their research. San Diego, a jewel of the Pacific coast of California, and Miami, the cultural, economic and financial center of South Florida. A tough decision to make, right? Luckily, we have taken care of the comparison. The following text puts San Diego vs Miami, accentuating their virtues whilst providing words of caution regarding their flaws.

Due introduction

Before we dive into the clash of San Diego vs Miami and expose their enticing qualities and certain limitations, it is only fair that we give them a due and proper introduction. These are intended to be viewed as neither pros nor cons. They are merely objective facts that can help in steering you in the right direction. Whichever city you may choose in the end, even if it’s not Miami, nor San Diego, know that interstate moving companies in Miami will be more than happy to help you to your new home.

A man pondering the idea of living in San Diego vs Miami
In a fight between San Diego vs Miami, who wins? Let’s find out.

The City of Miami

Miami presents Florida’s valuable center of finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade. With 6.1 million people call the Miami metropolitan area their home, this place is rather lively and will surely suit any crowd-lover. Over the years, Miami has become a true multicultural mosaic, mostly shaped by Hispanic or Latino (of any race), who make up 70% of Miami’s population. Costs of living exceed the US average, with housing and transportation being the biggest factors. On the other hand, health and utilities are just below the nationals average.

The City of San Diego

People used to call San Diego “the birthplace of California” since it was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Today, the city that lies on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, has a population of over 1.5 million people. It is the economic center of the region. Its main economic engines include military and defense-related activities, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. Costs of living are much greater than the average of the US. Housing is by far the biggest reason for such a difference. Be that as it may, health is notably below the US average.

San Diego vs Miami with regards to their virtues

San Diego can boast about:

  • having great places for kids to learn a new sport or have an outdoor adventure. Anything from surfing and skateboarding to sailing and golfing is highly available.
  • having one of the top-ten best climates according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Oh, and let’s not forget one of the two best summer climates in America as scored by The Weather Channel.
  • the abundance of wildlife. To be exact, San Diego County has recorded 492 different bird species. That is more than any other region in the country.
  • being the ninth-most educated city in the United States. Public colleges and universities you can find here include San Diego State University (SDSU), University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and the San Diego Community College District.
  • more than just a pretty beach. Urban spaces like Balboa Park, cliff-top forest reserves like Torrey Pines State Park, as well as Penasquitos Reserve and Mission Trails Park make great terrain for a family hike.
  • its zoo. San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoological membership associations in the world, with more than 3,700 animals.
An orangutan hanging from a rope in a zoo.
With such a majestic zoo, you will never think about your next leisure destination.

People flock to Miami for:

  • the great weather. It is almost always sunny and warm, while snow is virtually nonexistent. To be precise, it registers an average low of just 16 Celsius, while the average high is a comfortable 27 Celsius.
  • quality service of long distance movers Miami. It’s hard to find a reliable moving company these days, but this city delivers.
  • the lack of income, inheritance and estate taxes. If you’re looking for a place where you can stretch the dollars you earn, Miami is it.
  • world-class health care. With over a dozen well-known health care clinics throughout the city, there is no shortage of options where one can choose to receive due care.
  • it’s cleanliness. What’s more, back in 2008, it was ranked as “America’s Cleanest City” according to Forbes. Factors taken into consideration included its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets, and citywide recycling programs.
  • Disneyland. Need we say more?

San Diego vs Miami with regards to their flaws

Residents of San Diego are not the biggest fans of:

  • the May Gray or June Gloom. During late spring and early summer, a marine layer forms over the ocean, making a trip to the beach cool and cloudy.
  • tip tides and undertows. When visiting beaches in Southern California, make sure to swim only in designated areas that are marked by lifeguard flags.
  • finding an empty parking lot. And you can simply forget about getting by without a car.

Miami is not too proud of:

  • the traffic. If you are the kind of person who is always in a hurry, Miami’s traffic jams might not be for you.
  • the number of bugs that inhabit the area. Some tend to be disturbingly large.
  • the humidity during the summer months. This is also the peak of the hurricane season that many find rather onerous.
A picture of a hurricane taken from outer space.
This one was most probably taken above the Florida coastline. Not a pretty sight from down there.

As you can see, when comparing San Diego vs Miami, one can hardly go wrong. It all comes down to your preferences. After all, when choosing a place to live, only you can decide what takes precedence over something else. In the end, when you finally decide and pack your bags, don’t forget to bring a lot of sunscreen for both of these beautiful cities.