Moving and neighborhoods
Moving to Miami as a renter
The city of Miami is a renters' city: about 69% of its homes are rented, and the Census puts median gross rent at $1,758 a month against a median household income of $62,462. Brickell, downtown and Edgewater are towers on the bay with Metromover at the door, while Little Havana, Coconut Grove and the Upper Eastside offer older, lower buildings and houses. Miami Beach and Coral Gables are separate cities, so check which city a listing sits in.
Updated Last checked 3 min read
Quick answer
- Population about 489,800. About 69% of homes are renter-occupied.
- Median gross rent $1,758, median household income $62,462.
- Metromover downtown and in Brickell is free. Metrorail and Metrobus cost $2.25 a ride.
- Many towers require association approval for tenants. Ask before you pay a fee.
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Miami by the numbers
| Topic | City of Miami | Miami-Dade County |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 489,812 | 2,802,029 |
| Median gross rent | $1,758 | $1,829 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 30.8% | 52.2% |
| Median household income | $62,462 | $71,753 |
| Average commute, one way | 27.3 minutes | 30.9 minutes |
The city's median rent sits below the county's, which surprises people who only know Brickell. The median takes in decades-old buildings and long-running leases in neighborhoods like Little Havana and Allapattah, where rents run well under the towers on the bay. New listings in the towers usually ask far more than $1,758. The low median also tracks the city's lower household income, $62,462 against the county's $71,753, which is one reason so many Miami renters spend more than 30% of income on housing.
Where renters look first
- Brickell. The financial district, mostly condo and rental towers, with Metrorail and Metromover stations.
- Downtown and Edgewater. Towers along Biscayne Bay, with Edgewater running north from downtown toward Midtown.
- Wynwood and Midtown. Newer mid-rise apartments around the galleries and murals, close to I-95 and I-195.
- Little Havana. West of Brickell along Calle Ocho, with older low-rise apartments and duplexes.
- Coconut Grove. South along the bay, a mix of houses, townhomes and condos, with its own Metrorail station.
- The Upper Eastside and Little River. Along Biscayne Boulevard north of the 50s, with older homes and small buildings.
A listing that says Miami can be anywhere in the county. Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Doral and North Miami are their own cities, with their own permits, rules and, often, their own price levels.
Getting around without a car
Miami-Dade's fare guide from February 2026 lists Metrobus and Metrorail at $2.25 a ride, a one-day pass at $5.65 and a monthly pass at $112.50. Metromover, the automated loop through downtown and Brickell, is free. MiamiCentral downtown connects Metrorail, Metromover, Brightline and, since January 2024, Tri-Rail.
Live near a Metrorail or Metromover stop and work on the line, and you can skip a car entirely. Live in the western suburbs and work downtown, and you'll probably drive or park at a Metrorail station. More in commuting in South Florida.
Condo towers on the bay
Many bay-front towers are condos let by their owners. The association screens you too, on its own clock. Read condo and HOA approval first.
Much of Miami sits low, and surge reaches the bay front first. Look up the evacuation zone and the FEMA flood zone, ask where cars go in a storm, and buy renters insurance before June. The checklist is in hurricane season for renters.
Questions people ask
Why is the median rent in Miami lower than Brickell listings?
The $1,758 Census median for 2020 to 2024 counts every renter in the city of Miami, including older buildings and leases signed years ago. New listings in towers like those in Brickell and Edgewater usually ask much more.
Can you live in Miami without a car?
In Brickell, downtown and Edgewater, yes, with the free Metromover and Metrorail at $2.25 a ride. Elsewhere it gets harder fast.
Is Miami Beach part of Miami?
No. Miami Beach is its own city, as are Coral Gables, Doral and North Miami. The Census numbers here are for the city of Miami only.
Free help from Rentvana
We'll shortlist Miami homes in the neighborhoods you pick and handle the condo approval with you.
Renters never pay Rentvana. A licensed agent replies within 1 hour, 8am to 9pm.
Questions first? Call 888-601-8344 or email hello@rentvana.com.
Words in this guide
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Miami city, Floridacensus.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Miami-Dade County, Floridacensus.gov
- Miami-Dade County: Transit fare guide (February 2026)miamidade.gov
- Brightline: Brightline welcomes Tri-Rail to MiamiCentral (January 13, 2024)gobrightline.com
- Florida Division of Emergency Management: Know Your Zonefloridadisaster.org
Checked against these sources on by Rentvana Editorial. If something has changed, email hello@rentvana.com and we'll fix it.
Questions?
Call 888-601-8344 to talk to a licensed agent, or email hello@rentvana.com and one gets back to you within 1 hour, 8am to 9pm. Renters never pay Rentvana.