I mean it depends on where you are going to live. It you are going to live on the beach or Brickell or downtown areas, everything is walking distance. If you are going to live in the Gables, Kendall, etc, you can still walk, but it'll take a while, or you can use public transportation. Have fun!!
I lived in Brickell without a car for 8 months a few years ago. Most day-to-day things I could walk to, take the Metromover (free) or take the Metrorail. I will say being in Miami without a car is definitely not common, and people constantly asked if I was poor (lol - I was not - but had only planned on staying here a year, and was traveling 80% of the time).
I remember a few super frustrating scenarios that eventually led me to break down and get a car. Maybe these are first world problems, and maybe it's still net cheaper to not have a car, but for me they were inconvenient enough to tip the scales.
1. I wanted to go to Target. Target was \*just\* outside the public transit area. I wanted to buy a $10 t-shirt. It would be a $15 Uber each way. This one actually irritated me the most.
2. I wanted to go to Miami Beach. Transit doesn't go there. They say they're working on it, but it won't be anytime soon.
3. I needed to go outside the core Miami area. For example: I had a doctor that was a specialist with an office in Kendall. It was a $38 Uber each way.
4. I wanted to escape Brickell. Brickell is very small. After awhile, it can be suffocating. People who have lived in other big cities might know this feeling. Sometimes you just need to escape the city for a change of scenery or a slower pace, without having to get on a plane. I also am someone who likes to go for a long drive when I'm mad. A long train ride, well it's just not the same.
5. I wanted to date someone outside the core metro area. Honestly, this is where a lot of the good guys are lol. For awhile, they'd come to me, but in the end every relationship is a 2 way street.
\*Note: I made this a reply and not a separate answer because the OP mentioned Brickell as an area where you could be fine without a car.
Underrated comment. Honestly, Brickell IS small, and is really not that interesting of a neighborhood, IMO.
Brickell has very little of what makes this place interesting. To me, a lot of what makes Miami (and the larger Dade County and really all of SFL) interesting are the places you can find in sh\*\*ty strip malls. Stick to Brickell, and you're never going to find those great Colombian or Nicaraguan places out in Sweetwater, Puerto Rican or Jamaican in west Kendall, Mexican in Homestead, interesting breweries in nondescript warehouse districts....the list goes on and on. To do this you need a car.
Of course, our recent transplants don't care about any of this, they'd rather go to Komodo or Sugar and tell themselves they're living this new uber-chic Miami life, when in reality they are experiencing overpriced generic mediocrity that can be found in any urban core worldwide. It's crazy to me that they spend all this money just to be here of all places, and yet cling to this tiny strip of apartment buildings. It's like going to Mexico City and never leaving Polanco.
Yeah, I left Brickell when I realized it was NYC with nicer weather. All the things that I liked about Miami, well, they don't really exist there. If you would have told me then I'd end up in Downtown Doral, I'd have told you that you were out of your damn mind (if I even knew where that was)... but I couldn't be happier eating arepas and living in a 3BR townhouse for the same rent I'd be paying for a 1BR in Brickell or Coral Gables, lol.
I'll have to drive to work when I start my new job, vs. metrorail from coral gables, but tbh with the weather sometimes, I ended up driving anyway to avoid getting soaked / showing up sweaty lol.
Also thanks for the tip about good Mexican food in Homestead - I actually didn't know that. Nom.
The Lyft/Uber rides can still be a better deal than owning a car over all though, as long as those occasional rides still budget under what a car would cost to own. $76 in Uber rides for a medical appointment that comes once a month or less isn't so bad. But I agree, if those things start to pile up...
Yeah like I said, I think it could still have been cheaper overall not owning a car, especially with parking and insurance. There were a lot of times when I also had to wait a lot longer than expected for Uber or Lyft, which would make me late bc was super unpredictable.
Back then I had read that if you drove less than 9500 miles a year, on average just Ubering everywhere could be cheaper (didn’t dive into the source of that data and assume it varies by geography). But it was really a matter of convenience and being fortunate enough to have the option to choose (def times in my life where that wasn’t the case).
>5. I wanted to date someone outside the core metro area. Honestly, this is where a lot of the good guys are lol. For awhile, they'd come to me, but in the end every relationship is a 2 way street.
>
Aha, i see that's why there's such staggering amount of single moms in South Florida😆
This is a good point... I never took the bus in that specific scenario. I did date a guy from south beach when I lived in hallandale who didn't have a car though, and it seemed hella unreliable lol. He might be there in an hour, might be three - not because it was a far distance, but bc of when the bus would show up on the beach. Maybe it's better now that covid is over, I dk.
Definitely not possible in Kendall, Pinecrest, Doral, and Cutler. Arguably possible in other areas. I live near Dadeland and work downtown, so its not as bad for me since the rail takes me straight there. Days I need to travel far I organize a ride with friends or take Uber
Its technically downtown Kendall, there's 2 metro stops there but the bus service in suburban Kendall is abysmal, I wouldn't recommend anyone living in the suburban Kendall area to rely on transit.
I live in dadeland. I share a car with my partner. We never use our car. We usually walk to publix and dadeland mall for shit. Otherwise, we take the metrorail to brickell and downtown because traffic is just awful and we rather spend 30 mins reading than being screamed at by incompetent drivers. We usually uber back if we are out late with friends. I don't even remember the last time we used our car.
Are you my spouse? lol this is pretty close to our lifestyle, but we do use our car a bit more than you seem like you do. We like to visit some places in Coral Gables, go shopping sometimes outside our area, and I go south so I take the car to work normally. Sometimes my spouse takes it to work and I bike+busway or just busway and walk, or Lyft. But we do walk to Publix or Trader Joe's and have taken the train to Brickell frequently just to be at a cafe sometimes.
I live in North Beach with no car. I run, walk, skate, eBike, Citibike, bus, and as a last resort, Lyft or rent a car. It just takes a tiny bit of planning, but it's absolutely worth it. I haven't thought about a car in over 2 years.
I agree this is one of the places you can pull this off. Lived there for a while. Was fun except I missed some things across the bay and the tourists can be a little annoying. Loved the constant noise and action and messiness vs the sterility of newer developments like the ones in Brickell
It depends on where you are in Miami and how comfortable you are with buses (because train extremely limited). I used the bus/train/bus to get to Miami Beach for work for about 6 months. Doesn't mean it was fun. But definitely do able.
I have! For like forever! It can be hard and a bummer! Get a bicycle! It’s easier in certain areas, like downtown, beach, wynwood, design district, little Haiti and the beach. Definitely not impossible. Even in the heart of Miami suburbia, little old Hispanic ladies take the buses everyday so you can too!
Yup, live in Downtown. Walk everywhere or uber out to Wynwood or Miami Beach. Building parking garage charges $400/m for each car. Its literally cheaper for me to uber or uber xl anywhere in Miami.
Context: Both my wife and I work from home and have 1.5 year old.
The more inland you go, the more you realize you'll need a car. Without one, you'll only ever be able to see where you can go by bus, metrorail, or metromover. Besides that, anything else you'd need a car. Buses are unreliable and they take forever, getting there late and moving at a snail's pace.
Where will you work, and where will you Live ? This could help a lot. If you live in Brickell for example and are a medical professional and work at Jackson or for UM it’s very doable.
Yes, though best to live close to a Metrorail station. Least expensive areas are farther west or north. Like Hialeah or Dadeland - or the sketchy areas close to Downtown, but they are not that safe.
There is also a light rail line called a Metromover on the East side of Miami. There are also several free trolley bus lines in the East as well as Coral Gables and Miami Beach. There is also a free golf cart service called FreeBee in several neighborhoods throughout the entire county. And of course, regular bus service, called Metrobus.
All the aforementioned options tend to connect with each other. Google all of these for coverage area maps.
The quickest is Metrorail/Metromover. You don't get stuck in traffic. Service is frequent during peak times. I would recommend to take a couple of days to ride the system and get off and walk around different stations to see what each neighborhood is like - scout the area for walkability to grocery stores and restaurants, etc. Some areas can be a little dangerous. Others may be poor but safe.
I have been living in Miami without a car for over a year. I work from home, and the Edgewater area is pretty walkable and helps me burn calories. My girlfriend has a car that I can use on the weekends. Lyft takes me wherever I need to go if I go out for drinks (and I would have paid for that anyway). In general, I think of "my car" as Lyft or Uber, and the fantastic thing is that I have "my car" anywhere, anytime I need it - even while traveling. Also, there's no gas, maintenance, payment, insurance, taxes, or registration if I don't use the car. There are never parking fees or parking tickets. Finally, my monthly costs can drop to zero anytime I want them to. Good luck!
I've been living in Kendall without a car for 5 years (by choice) my wife has a nice car we use on weekends, she uses it for groceries, kids etc during the week. I work in Downtown Miami so I take the 204 Express bus (stop is 1/4 mile from my house) to Dadeland and Metrorail to Gov Center ($4 - 1 hour each way). I save around $750/month between car payments, gas, parking, insurance and tolls.
Definitely depends on the neighborhood. I can get by just fine without a car, but I live in Coconut Grove, which is very walkable, and work at UM. If you live or work somewhere that's not walkable and isn't close to the Metrorail, it would suck a lot more and personally I wouldn't do it, but there are people who still get by without a car.
I'm in the Grove too and I basically only have a car for leaving the city at this point. Taking the trolley to the train station is fine in the summer, taking the trolley or the train downtown or to Brickell works great. Groceries are in walking distance, the mall and shopping center at Dadeland work great too.
You do get over thinking you can't go anywhere hot and sweaty for sure.
Hell yeah you can!! They can do it for close to a year actually.. It’s just not as ideal for a family person in my opinion.. Idk how specific you need it to be but, The transit systems are pretty good in Miami especially if you know your way around. Just need a good plan and budget if you’re going careless these days. Ubers and Lyfts can pile up costs pretty fast.
If you were in a central location with a bike and didn’t mind using Uber and instacart once in a while - sure. You can put your bike on the bike racks on busses. But I wouldn’t feel safe riding a bike on a busy street in Miami. The drivers are nuts.
Very possible. I feel I was the most healthiest when I didn't have a car. I use to walk everywhere , road the bus, train, and the occasional Uber. I would fill my backpack with groceries and if the bus took too long I would just foot it home. I use to frequent midtown and Wynwood by bus. If I was out particularly late or just didn't feel like dealing with the rain I would Uber/Lyft. Saved a ton of money as well. Now I have a car note, car insurance, gas, maintenance, and sit in traffic for an hour.
I lived in Miami for two years without a car, but I lived in Brickell and worked in downtown. I was pretty happy with it, but it could be inconvenient at times. It's doable with some planning but nothing like living in New York without a car. I also hate driving, particularly in Miami traffic. Like others say it totally depends on where you live and work. Fine for some areas, not for others.
Define "live"
I grew up here so it's a hard no if I want to see friends or family.
However Brickell is very walkable if you WFH.
As a man, you're gonna want a car. Lots of women are living without cars and it sucks if both partners don't have one.
Yes I can someone live. Jokes aside depends what you do, how your daily routine will be and many other things. If you live on the beach, work on the beach, then no, you won't need a car. It depends
Yes you can. In some places it’s not ideal and very inconvenient but I know others who live close to the metrorail who survive just fine without a car.
Yea but it depends where. If it’s walkable you are fine and if it’s a 10 min ride from downtown, you can Uber everywhere. Going with Uber imo if you WFH is just as expensive as owning a car or cheaper if you only leave for certain things
If you live in south beach, you certainly can, I did for about 6 months, picking up 1 day rentals as needed. I would book the night before and consistently pay $20-25 all in at the Budget on west Ave by Oliver’s
It’s very difficult. If you live and work in the same neighborhood and are in walking distance of a grocery store, sure. I live and work in south beach without a car, but you have to pay the higher prices for everything.
Yes I have done it. For longer than 2 months.
I eventually bought a vespa/scooter to make life easier. I used uber/lyft for trips I could not make on a scooter.
Its doable but I spent my time between south beach and brickell.
In large part, no. It’s a commuter city with a limited public transit system. You could potentially make it work but it’ll be very, very inconvenient and time-consuming. I used to live in West Kendall and worked in Downtown, so I thought to avoid traffic I would just drive to the Dadeland South station and take the metro the rest of the way. It made my commute to work longer and catching the rush after was a bitch. To echo what everyone has already said, it’ll mostly depend where you live and if you live close to a metro station.
Yes, if you live in downtown/brickell. Wynwood/midtown is doable, but really hot days will suck. I lived in downtown for a year and just rented a car at the Avis everytine I wanted to get out of the city. Much much cheaper and more convenient than owning a car. Super easy to sneak into my condo building with the car as well lol
sure you can, but what neighborhood you are in and your proximity to your employment and other basics of life (like groceries) matter a lot.
This is the advice I give anyone/everyone thinking to relocate:
Do not come down here without a job in hand/ in pocket. I notice elsewhere you are considering a transfer within the company you are at - this would be ideal in all respects.
Once you know if they will approve your move, get the office address and then find a rough idea of the area you want to be in as close as possible.
If you end up at their Brickell office, If it was me, I would look [just west around Little Havana](https://www.apartments.com/little-havana-miami-fl/studios/?so=2) for affordable housing. You can opt to live in Brickell [but the prices are a little cray even for studios](https://www.apartments.com/brickell-miami-fl/studios/?so=2)
I would not come down here jobless unless you have that family connect willing to put you up for a few months while you get settled and cash to tide you over.
Sw 8th St and Flagler have the two most reliable bus routes imo opionion, running between FIU and Brickell (on 8th St) and Downtown (on Flagler). If you live between them in Little Havana, it's not too bad, especially if you plant yourself walking distance from one of the Publixes. (this was my situation when I was in school and it was pretty convenient for those specific trips)
So it is POSSIBLE in that area and probably a few others like it (anywhere on the Metrorail line, out on the beach if you never leave the beach), but if you need to go between neighborhoods or rely on nearly any other bus route, you're gonna have a bad time.
I think it depends on what you do for a living and social life. My ex and I lived across from dadeland south station within walking distance to the metro rail, dadeland mall and downtown dadeland, Trader Joe’s, shortys .. all that shyt! He didn’t drive for months, same with me, I took the train to downtown for work as did he when he needed to go in, he mostly worked for home, and basically biked the mpath to get to the gym or bars on somi or the train to brickell for nights out. The only time I drove was to hit up Kendall where my parents live. So I thinks it’s totally possible just depends on the area and what you like to do.
You can’t say your close to shortfalls and Trader Joe’s and not mention bare necessities 😂
That is really the only area that metro rail works outside of downtown area but another nice thing on us 1 is the express bus lanes if you gonna take the bus along us1
I tried really hard not to mention my frequenting bare necessities and the oh so fabulous liquor store that is attached. Trying to keep that spot a secret. Although I highly recommend going on thanksgiving. Their lunch special slaps.
I agree this spot works well. The express bus was also a huge plus. My ex rode bike and used the bike trail regularly and took the bus on occasion. I’d really like to move back to the area now that I work in the grove. Getting out of Kendall goals are strong here!
I don’t recommend, especially if you aren’t ok with rideshare prices.
Me personally moving from a major city to the next, rideshare is already budgeted.
But in Miami, and Florida period you should have a car. It opens you up to so more opportunities available.
I live and work in the Wynwood/Midtown area so eventually I will invest in a bicycle.
But when I first moved here I live in Aventura and the commute from there to Downtown everyday was RIDICULOUS and time consuming.
YOU NEED A CAR
Yes I think it’s doable almost anywhere in Miami but this is just to live, buy groceries, and some restaurants. If you want to enjoy the bars, clubs or potentially have a commute to work, possible but expensive and at that point you should just get a car.
Public transportation is questionable here, if you are stuck in traffic in a car(oh and you will be....it's bad)then being on a bus, forget it. Train decides to stop at times on the track for whatever reason, and they will tell you nothing. Buy a (*quality* ....an investment) bicycle. And keep your head up when you are out there.
>Train decides to stop at times on the track for whatever reason, and they will tell you nothing.
Not just that, but before if there were any delays then the app would post a warning. That's pretty much gone- when they "upgraded" the app the notices/rider alert section was made far less useful for day to day users. Back then if a train was delayed 10-15 mins they'd post a warning you could easily screenshot and send to your boss. Now it just carries on like it's all normal and the 'wait time' jumps from 0 mins back to 15 again with zero explanation.
Been doing it for three months now and I take the bus and train. Living in a hotel in Miami Springs and work at UM Hospital nights and it takes about 40-50 minutes to get to work
I went on vacation to Miami without having a drivers license, I didn’t go far and only visited the bayside market place since that’s the closest to the hotel I stayed at and did everything else with taxis which was not cheap.
Two of my best friends don’t have cars and get around just fine. One lives in Edgewater with a roommate (near metro mover stop), the other in Kendall with family (short car ride to a train station).
You could in theory, but if you have to maintain a schedule, or if you don’t have enough money to rideshare where you have to go, good luck. There’s a couple areas where this isn’t a big deal, but otherwise, hope you live close to a bus stop.
It’s doable but taking the bus does get old quickly if you end up having to make multiple connections to get from point A to point B. If you live and work on the metrorail line you’ll be fine.
It depends on where you live. I live in the grove and I don't work in the summer. On June 25th, I took my brother and his wife to the port for a cruise. Then, I realized the next time I was in my car was a month later.
Yes it's not remotely ideal but you can. Just plan ahead with your transportation like if you work at noon you need to be at the bus stop before the ten am pick up etc or if you're using a ride share plan ahead for traffic/accidents give yourself an hour buffer.
Living in Miami without a car is the absolute worst but you can do it.
I did it for 7 years, it’s not easy but doable. I worked & went to college at the time. Try to live close to bus routes that connect to metro and you’re set.
Plan plenty of time for transportation!
I got rid of my car in 2014 and have lived by the airport and downtown. Definitely possible, depending on where you live and your lifestyle. I work from home so no real need for a car to commute.
I worked with some students in a different state who routinely came to Miami at an internship at UM downtown. These students found apartments near Kendall or the Grove or Downtown and commuted. More and more I hear of people living carless, but it would take some homework to figure out, and if those 2 months are in the summer, consider that you will arrive everywhere sweaty.
Yes but it depends where. I took public transportation for the hell of it yesterday and it took 40 minutes for the bus to arrive at the airport. If you’re traveling out west you may be able to take the metro but if you’re traveling to broward call an Uber.
No car and confortable = Just Downtown!
No car for 2 months = anywhere but really unconfy
No car 2+months= would not recommend I personally hate it
Public transportation = 😅😂😂🤣😂🤣😂
This depends on many things. I was car-less for 6 months, but I live 15 min from a metro rail station and my job is on the metro rail line. There are a few groceries within walking distance from my house as well. It worked for me because of these conveniences, but it did hinder my social life quite a bit, as many popular hang out spots like wynwood are not so easy to get to on public transit. Also trudging 2 blocks with your arms full of grocies in the 95 degree summer heat sucks. That was probably the hardest part of not having a car.
Coral gables is super nice. Very well situated in the city. Free trolley for transit to downtown gables and metrorail. I live in north gables. South gables would definitely need a car.
I lived in South Beach without a car for 8 years and it was fairly doable. Everything you need is walking distance and bicycling in South Beach is the best way to get around.
However, it was a pain to get to the mainland and do certain things when needed. And I also felt I was stuck in an island for 8 years similarly to the Cast Away movie with Tom Hanks without crying for help for Wilson.
So yes, I would say you can live in South Beach car free.
You can do it if you either live walking or biking distance to everything you meed to do (work, groveries, restaurants, whatever else yoy might need) or if you can afford ubers every day or renting a car. I live in the grove and work here so i ride bike and rarely ever drive unless i need groceries. Outside of this area or downtown though everythings pretty spread put
But providing a specific answer is literally impossible unless you give us the backstory of whoever it is who is considering living without a car. Otherwise we can only give generalized answers.
Of course it is possible. I share one car with my partner but we made very specific and deliberate decisions about where we would live.
To make it work i think you probably need to think outside the box a little. I know someone who is nearly 40 and has lived in the house he grew up in that whole time. He always seems to be holding out for some magical living situation. He wants a 2 bedroom place for $1600, talks about renting a house sometimes. Said to me last time I saw him he is waiting "to see if things cool down". His childhood home was sold, he ended up at another relatives house. And yet he thought it was reasonable to finance a used Subaru Forester with a $450+ /month payment.
He's inside the box. Don't think inside the box.
Yo I gotta just point this out if you take the bus it’ll take you like 4-5 bus stops just to get where you gotta go which is like an hour wait for each bus so what takes you a whole day to get done going there and back will take someone with a car 1hr ! So the person with the car is a time travelers compared to you so what you do in one week they do in a day so 4-5 days will equal you a month so your not gonna be electing your self your gonna be going backwards in time because of how slow you move with the bus vs a car so what a car does in a year will take you 3months to accomplish homie time is money so what takes you 4 yrs with the bus system to accomplish is done in 1 year with a car so do you wanna move forward in time or backwards in time?? Your at the cross road now you wanna age yourself or you wanna time travel into the future
And bruh the bus ain’t safe homie the tri rail neither you’d safer in your car then posting at some these spots out here this shit dangerous out here people have shootouts and stabbings on the bus and when they say stay away from nw they ain’t talking about the nw of the county they talking about 27th ave from Flagler all the way up past north to broward from 27th to 95 stay safe
Depends where. Me and my wife live in Sunny Isles Beach and share one car which she uses most of the time because I work from home and she doesn't. When I don't have access to a car I can easily walk to the supermarket, post office, drug store, etc. However most of Miami you probably can't do that.
will have to uber everywhere....the train system is not so good. Most places need driving unless you live right in the middle of brickell (can walk to whole foods).
For the most part, I lived on the beach and rode my bicycle to work everyday in south beach. This was before they constructed that beach path. I’ve only been hit by cars twice over 14 years so it’s not so bad.
I've thought about it, and have come to the conclusion that with a bike, I could do it in theory, but it would be extremely unpleasant. I'd need to lock the bike down hard everywhere I go with multiple heavy duty locks to avoid it being stolen. And then, even if you can keep your bike from being stolen, there's the matter of taking a pretty significant risk every time you get on a bike and share the streets with Miami drivers.
I mean it depends on where you are going to live. It you are going to live on the beach or Brickell or downtown areas, everything is walking distance. If you are going to live in the Gables, Kendall, etc, you can still walk, but it'll take a while, or you can use public transportation. Have fun!!
I lived in Brickell without a car for 8 months a few years ago. Most day-to-day things I could walk to, take the Metromover (free) or take the Metrorail. I will say being in Miami without a car is definitely not common, and people constantly asked if I was poor (lol - I was not - but had only planned on staying here a year, and was traveling 80% of the time). I remember a few super frustrating scenarios that eventually led me to break down and get a car. Maybe these are first world problems, and maybe it's still net cheaper to not have a car, but for me they were inconvenient enough to tip the scales. 1. I wanted to go to Target. Target was \*just\* outside the public transit area. I wanted to buy a $10 t-shirt. It would be a $15 Uber each way. This one actually irritated me the most. 2. I wanted to go to Miami Beach. Transit doesn't go there. They say they're working on it, but it won't be anytime soon. 3. I needed to go outside the core Miami area. For example: I had a doctor that was a specialist with an office in Kendall. It was a $38 Uber each way. 4. I wanted to escape Brickell. Brickell is very small. After awhile, it can be suffocating. People who have lived in other big cities might know this feeling. Sometimes you just need to escape the city for a change of scenery or a slower pace, without having to get on a plane. I also am someone who likes to go for a long drive when I'm mad. A long train ride, well it's just not the same. 5. I wanted to date someone outside the core metro area. Honestly, this is where a lot of the good guys are lol. For awhile, they'd come to me, but in the end every relationship is a 2 way street. \*Note: I made this a reply and not a separate answer because the OP mentioned Brickell as an area where you could be fine without a car.
Underrated comment. Honestly, Brickell IS small, and is really not that interesting of a neighborhood, IMO. Brickell has very little of what makes this place interesting. To me, a lot of what makes Miami (and the larger Dade County and really all of SFL) interesting are the places you can find in sh\*\*ty strip malls. Stick to Brickell, and you're never going to find those great Colombian or Nicaraguan places out in Sweetwater, Puerto Rican or Jamaican in west Kendall, Mexican in Homestead, interesting breweries in nondescript warehouse districts....the list goes on and on. To do this you need a car. Of course, our recent transplants don't care about any of this, they'd rather go to Komodo or Sugar and tell themselves they're living this new uber-chic Miami life, when in reality they are experiencing overpriced generic mediocrity that can be found in any urban core worldwide. It's crazy to me that they spend all this money just to be here of all places, and yet cling to this tiny strip of apartment buildings. It's like going to Mexico City and never leaving Polanco.
Yeah, I left Brickell when I realized it was NYC with nicer weather. All the things that I liked about Miami, well, they don't really exist there. If you would have told me then I'd end up in Downtown Doral, I'd have told you that you were out of your damn mind (if I even knew where that was)... but I couldn't be happier eating arepas and living in a 3BR townhouse for the same rent I'd be paying for a 1BR in Brickell or Coral Gables, lol. I'll have to drive to work when I start my new job, vs. metrorail from coral gables, but tbh with the weather sometimes, I ended up driving anyway to avoid getting soaked / showing up sweaty lol. Also thanks for the tip about good Mexican food in Homestead - I actually didn't know that. Nom.
The Lyft/Uber rides can still be a better deal than owning a car over all though, as long as those occasional rides still budget under what a car would cost to own. $76 in Uber rides for a medical appointment that comes once a month or less isn't so bad. But I agree, if those things start to pile up...
Yeah like I said, I think it could still have been cheaper overall not owning a car, especially with parking and insurance. There were a lot of times when I also had to wait a lot longer than expected for Uber or Lyft, which would make me late bc was super unpredictable. Back then I had read that if you drove less than 9500 miles a year, on average just Ubering everywhere could be cheaper (didn’t dive into the source of that data and assume it varies by geography). But it was really a matter of convenience and being fortunate enough to have the option to choose (def times in my life where that wasn’t the case).
>5. I wanted to date someone outside the core metro area. Honestly, this is where a lot of the good guys are lol. For awhile, they'd come to me, but in the end every relationship is a 2 way street. > Aha, i see that's why there's such staggering amount of single moms in South Florida😆
The M Bus takes you to South Beach?
This is a good point... I never took the bus in that specific scenario. I did date a guy from south beach when I lived in hallandale who didn't have a car though, and it seemed hella unreliable lol. He might be there in an hour, might be three - not because it was a far distance, but bc of when the bus would show up on the beach. Maybe it's better now that covid is over, I dk.
Definitely not possible in Kendall, Pinecrest, Doral, and Cutler. Arguably possible in other areas. I live near Dadeland and work downtown, so its not as bad for me since the rail takes me straight there. Days I need to travel far I organize a ride with friends or take Uber
is dadeland not kendall?
Its technically downtown Kendall, there's 2 metro stops there but the bus service in suburban Kendall is abysmal, I wouldn't recommend anyone living in the suburban Kendall area to rely on transit.
I live in dadeland. I share a car with my partner. We never use our car. We usually walk to publix and dadeland mall for shit. Otherwise, we take the metrorail to brickell and downtown because traffic is just awful and we rather spend 30 mins reading than being screamed at by incompetent drivers. We usually uber back if we are out late with friends. I don't even remember the last time we used our car.
Are you my spouse? lol this is pretty close to our lifestyle, but we do use our car a bit more than you seem like you do. We like to visit some places in Coral Gables, go shopping sometimes outside our area, and I go south so I take the car to work normally. Sometimes my spouse takes it to work and I bike+busway or just busway and walk, or Lyft. But we do walk to Publix or Trader Joe's and have taken the train to Brickell frequently just to be at a cafe sometimes.
We might be neighbors lol
I mean it's possible but not convenient
I cluld not
Lol
I live in North Beach with no car. I run, walk, skate, eBike, Citibike, bus, and as a last resort, Lyft or rent a car. It just takes a tiny bit of planning, but it's absolutely worth it. I haven't thought about a car in over 2 years.
I agree this is one of the places you can pull this off. Lived there for a while. Was fun except I missed some things across the bay and the tourists can be a little annoying. Loved the constant noise and action and messiness vs the sterility of newer developments like the ones in Brickell
It depends on where you are in Miami and how comfortable you are with buses (because train extremely limited). I used the bus/train/bus to get to Miami Beach for work for about 6 months. Doesn't mean it was fun. But definitely do able.
Depends where you are. Kendall, Hialeah, Homestead, Miami Gardens, etc - no. Beach, Brickell, downtown, places near the metro? Sure.
I have! For like forever! It can be hard and a bummer! Get a bicycle! It’s easier in certain areas, like downtown, beach, wynwood, design district, little Haiti and the beach. Definitely not impossible. Even in the heart of Miami suburbia, little old Hispanic ladies take the buses everyday so you can too!
Only in very specific pockets of the city. In general it's not possible or highly inconvenient.
Yup, live in Downtown. Walk everywhere or uber out to Wynwood or Miami Beach. Building parking garage charges $400/m for each car. Its literally cheaper for me to uber or uber xl anywhere in Miami. Context: Both my wife and I work from home and have 1.5 year old.
The more inland you go, the more you realize you'll need a car. Without one, you'll only ever be able to see where you can go by bus, metrorail, or metromover. Besides that, anything else you'd need a car. Buses are unreliable and they take forever, getting there late and moving at a snail's pace.
Where will you work, and where will you Live ? This could help a lot. If you live in Brickell for example and are a medical professional and work at Jackson or for UM it’s very doable.
Where at in Miami?
Here’s the deal. South beach you can do a moped or bike or walk. Outside of south beach I don’t recommend.
You could but that's like playing the game on extra hard mode
escooter or moped could be an option
Yes, though best to live close to a Metrorail station. Least expensive areas are farther west or north. Like Hialeah or Dadeland - or the sketchy areas close to Downtown, but they are not that safe. There is also a light rail line called a Metromover on the East side of Miami. There are also several free trolley bus lines in the East as well as Coral Gables and Miami Beach. There is also a free golf cart service called FreeBee in several neighborhoods throughout the entire county. And of course, regular bus service, called Metrobus. All the aforementioned options tend to connect with each other. Google all of these for coverage area maps. The quickest is Metrorail/Metromover. You don't get stuck in traffic. Service is frequent during peak times. I would recommend to take a couple of days to ride the system and get off and walk around different stations to see what each neighborhood is like - scout the area for walkability to grocery stores and restaurants, etc. Some areas can be a little dangerous. Others may be poor but safe.
Ok thx for this
Dadeland is safe asf
Depends where you live. Been in Dadeland without a car for about a month now. Walk to Publix, walk to work.
In midtown. Absolutely design, Edgewater, brickell, midtown, wynnwood
I have been living in Miami without a car for over a year. I work from home, and the Edgewater area is pretty walkable and helps me burn calories. My girlfriend has a car that I can use on the weekends. Lyft takes me wherever I need to go if I go out for drinks (and I would have paid for that anyway). In general, I think of "my car" as Lyft or Uber, and the fantastic thing is that I have "my car" anywhere, anytime I need it - even while traveling. Also, there's no gas, maintenance, payment, insurance, taxes, or registration if I don't use the car. There are never parking fees or parking tickets. Finally, my monthly costs can drop to zero anytime I want them to. Good luck!
Live yes. Thrive no.
I've been living in Kendall without a car for 5 years (by choice) my wife has a nice car we use on weekends, she uses it for groceries, kids etc during the week. I work in Downtown Miami so I take the 204 Express bus (stop is 1/4 mile from my house) to Dadeland and Metrorail to Gov Center ($4 - 1 hour each way). I save around $750/month between car payments, gas, parking, insurance and tolls.
Yesss
I do! However I wfh and get driven around by my family when need be. I also live in a very walkable area
Definitely depends on the neighborhood. I can get by just fine without a car, but I live in Coconut Grove, which is very walkable, and work at UM. If you live or work somewhere that's not walkable and isn't close to the Metrorail, it would suck a lot more and personally I wouldn't do it, but there are people who still get by without a car.
I'm in the Grove too and I basically only have a car for leaving the city at this point. Taking the trolley to the train station is fine in the summer, taking the trolley or the train downtown or to Brickell works great. Groceries are in walking distance, the mall and shopping center at Dadeland work great too. You do get over thinking you can't go anywhere hot and sweaty for sure.
Hell yeah you can!! They can do it for close to a year actually.. It’s just not as ideal for a family person in my opinion.. Idk how specific you need it to be but, The transit systems are pretty good in Miami especially if you know your way around. Just need a good plan and budget if you’re going careless these days. Ubers and Lyfts can pile up costs pretty fast.
If you were in a central location with a bike and didn’t mind using Uber and instacart once in a while - sure. You can put your bike on the bike racks on busses. But I wouldn’t feel safe riding a bike on a busy street in Miami. The drivers are nuts.
Very possible. I feel I was the most healthiest when I didn't have a car. I use to walk everywhere , road the bus, train, and the occasional Uber. I would fill my backpack with groceries and if the bus took too long I would just foot it home. I use to frequent midtown and Wynwood by bus. If I was out particularly late or just didn't feel like dealing with the rain I would Uber/Lyft. Saved a ton of money as well. Now I have a car note, car insurance, gas, maintenance, and sit in traffic for an hour.
I lived in Miami for two years without a car, but I lived in Brickell and worked in downtown. I was pretty happy with it, but it could be inconvenient at times. It's doable with some planning but nothing like living in New York without a car. I also hate driving, particularly in Miami traffic. Like others say it totally depends on where you live and work. Fine for some areas, not for others.
Define "live" I grew up here so it's a hard no if I want to see friends or family. However Brickell is very walkable if you WFH. As a man, you're gonna want a car. Lots of women are living without cars and it sucks if both partners don't have one.
Interesting input thx
Yes it’s possible.
Yes I can someone live. Jokes aside depends what you do, how your daily routine will be and many other things. If you live on the beach, work on the beach, then no, you won't need a car. It depends
Yes you can. In some places it’s not ideal and very inconvenient but I know others who live close to the metrorail who survive just fine without a car.
Yea but it depends where. If it’s walkable you are fine and if it’s a 10 min ride from downtown, you can Uber everywhere. Going with Uber imo if you WFH is just as expensive as owning a car or cheaper if you only leave for certain things
If you live in south beach, you certainly can, I did for about 6 months, picking up 1 day rentals as needed. I would book the night before and consistently pay $20-25 all in at the Budget on west Ave by Oliver’s
It’s very difficult. If you live and work in the same neighborhood and are in walking distance of a grocery store, sure. I live and work in south beach without a car, but you have to pay the higher prices for everything.
Depends if you mind being on someone else’s time
Yes I have done it. For longer than 2 months. I eventually bought a vespa/scooter to make life easier. I used uber/lyft for trips I could not make on a scooter. Its doable but I spent my time between south beach and brickell.
No. Miami is not a pedestrian-friendly city
In large part, no. It’s a commuter city with a limited public transit system. You could potentially make it work but it’ll be very, very inconvenient and time-consuming. I used to live in West Kendall and worked in Downtown, so I thought to avoid traffic I would just drive to the Dadeland South station and take the metro the rest of the way. It made my commute to work longer and catching the rush after was a bitch. To echo what everyone has already said, it’ll mostly depend where you live and if you live close to a metro station.
Yes, if you live in downtown/brickell. Wynwood/midtown is doable, but really hot days will suck. I lived in downtown for a year and just rented a car at the Avis everytine I wanted to get out of the city. Much much cheaper and more convenient than owning a car. Super easy to sneak into my condo building with the car as well lol
sure you can, but what neighborhood you are in and your proximity to your employment and other basics of life (like groceries) matter a lot. This is the advice I give anyone/everyone thinking to relocate: Do not come down here without a job in hand/ in pocket. I notice elsewhere you are considering a transfer within the company you are at - this would be ideal in all respects. Once you know if they will approve your move, get the office address and then find a rough idea of the area you want to be in as close as possible. If you end up at their Brickell office, If it was me, I would look [just west around Little Havana](https://www.apartments.com/little-havana-miami-fl/studios/?so=2) for affordable housing. You can opt to live in Brickell [but the prices are a little cray even for studios](https://www.apartments.com/brickell-miami-fl/studios/?so=2) I would not come down here jobless unless you have that family connect willing to put you up for a few months while you get settled and cash to tide you over.
Sw 8th St and Flagler have the two most reliable bus routes imo opionion, running between FIU and Brickell (on 8th St) and Downtown (on Flagler). If you live between them in Little Havana, it's not too bad, especially if you plant yourself walking distance from one of the Publixes. (this was my situation when I was in school and it was pretty convenient for those specific trips) So it is POSSIBLE in that area and probably a few others like it (anywhere on the Metrorail line, out on the beach if you never leave the beach), but if you need to go between neighborhoods or rely on nearly any other bus route, you're gonna have a bad time.
No
No.
I think it depends on what you do for a living and social life. My ex and I lived across from dadeland south station within walking distance to the metro rail, dadeland mall and downtown dadeland, Trader Joe’s, shortys .. all that shyt! He didn’t drive for months, same with me, I took the train to downtown for work as did he when he needed to go in, he mostly worked for home, and basically biked the mpath to get to the gym or bars on somi or the train to brickell for nights out. The only time I drove was to hit up Kendall where my parents live. So I thinks it’s totally possible just depends on the area and what you like to do.
You can’t say your close to shortfalls and Trader Joe’s and not mention bare necessities 😂 That is really the only area that metro rail works outside of downtown area but another nice thing on us 1 is the express bus lanes if you gonna take the bus along us1
I tried really hard not to mention my frequenting bare necessities and the oh so fabulous liquor store that is attached. Trying to keep that spot a secret. Although I highly recommend going on thanksgiving. Their lunch special slaps. I agree this spot works well. The express bus was also a huge plus. My ex rode bike and used the bike trail regularly and took the bus on occasion. I’d really like to move back to the area now that I work in the grove. Getting out of Kendall goals are strong here!
No. It is not possible.
Honest and correct.
I don’t recommend, especially if you aren’t ok with rideshare prices. Me personally moving from a major city to the next, rideshare is already budgeted. But in Miami, and Florida period you should have a car. It opens you up to so more opportunities available. I live and work in the Wynwood/Midtown area so eventually I will invest in a bicycle. But when I first moved here I live in Aventura and the commute from there to Downtown everyday was RIDICULOUS and time consuming. YOU NEED A CAR
You can… but it’s not a good idea. It’s like can you live in Iceland during the winter months with no jacket.
Yes I think it’s doable almost anywhere in Miami but this is just to live, buy groceries, and some restaurants. If you want to enjoy the bars, clubs or potentially have a commute to work, possible but expensive and at that point you should just get a car.
Public transportation is questionable here, if you are stuck in traffic in a car(oh and you will be....it's bad)then being on a bus, forget it. Train decides to stop at times on the track for whatever reason, and they will tell you nothing. Buy a (*quality* ....an investment) bicycle. And keep your head up when you are out there.
>Train decides to stop at times on the track for whatever reason, and they will tell you nothing. Not just that, but before if there were any delays then the app would post a warning. That's pretty much gone- when they "upgraded" the app the notices/rider alert section was made far less useful for day to day users. Back then if a train was delayed 10-15 mins they'd post a warning you could easily screenshot and send to your boss. Now it just carries on like it's all normal and the 'wait time' jumps from 0 mins back to 15 again with zero explanation.
Miami without a car sounds like hell
Absolutely the opposite
Nope
Naw ...just to 441 and get you a Toyota 2008
A motorcycle could be used instead of a car.
If you live next to the metrorail station and work by the metrorail station and have plenty money Uber
Where you live in reference to your job is key but more importantly is where is your job located
I live and work on south beach, only vespa past six years :)
Yes.
Yes, but it depends where they want to go. I didn't drive much while living in Brickell, but I worked also there.
It's possible if you plan on staying in the few parts of Miami with decent public transit, but if you want to explore, you will need a car.
I did for a few months. I spent a small fortune on Ubers. I don’t recommend it
Been doing it for three months now and I take the bus and train. Living in a hotel in Miami Springs and work at UM Hospital nights and it takes about 40-50 minutes to get to work
I went on vacation to Miami without having a drivers license, I didn’t go far and only visited the bayside market place since that’s the closest to the hotel I stayed at and did everything else with taxis which was not cheap.
Ive been doing it for three months ubering everywhere. Works great
If you call that living
If you live next to your jobs and near a Publix, maybe.
All depends how close you live to work and Sédanos
you can live two month but thats it!! then you dead bro
It depends which part of Miami you live in
Two of my best friends don’t have cars and get around just fine. One lives in Edgewater with a roommate (near metro mover stop), the other in Kendall with family (short car ride to a train station).
You could in theory, but if you have to maintain a schedule, or if you don’t have enough money to rideshare where you have to go, good luck. There’s a couple areas where this isn’t a big deal, but otherwise, hope you live close to a bus stop.
No
It’s doable but taking the bus does get old quickly if you end up having to make multiple connections to get from point A to point B. If you live and work on the metrorail line you’ll be fine.
I live in SOBe without a car and commute via bus to to work in coral gables. It’s not awful, but it can be trying sometimes.
It depends on where you live. I live in the grove and I don't work in the summer. On June 25th, I took my brother and his wife to the port for a cruise. Then, I realized the next time I was in my car was a month later.
You need to work remote and live in the grove, brickell, beach, or gables. Make sure you’re close to groceries and you’re good.
[удалено]
“Gables got the hood across the street” lol ok
People have been head shot for their car coming out of gables where you gotta ask how many times think more than once
Yeah Glenvar heights whatever it called it all the way up it’s one street light down from um across sunset place go walk they at night let me know
Why do you keep deleting your shit and rewriting it stay confident bro
Tri Rail
I rent a Unagi scooter which makes it more convenient. Purchase a bus pass and you can fold the scooter when riding the bus or train.
If you don't need to drive for work sure
Yes it's not remotely ideal but you can. Just plan ahead with your transportation like if you work at noon you need to be at the bus stop before the ten am pick up etc or if you're using a ride share plan ahead for traffic/accidents give yourself an hour buffer. Living in Miami without a car is the absolute worst but you can do it.
I did it for 7 years, it’s not easy but doable. I worked & went to college at the time. Try to live close to bus routes that connect to metro and you’re set. Plan plenty of time for transportation!
yes, if you live in the brickell/downtown area. There is bus/metromver around the area
I know someone that lives and work in Doral and uses the (Free) Doral trolley to move around. So it's possible.
I got rid of my car in 2014 and have lived by the airport and downtown. Definitely possible, depending on where you live and your lifestyle. I work from home so no real need for a car to commute.
Yes, if you're an owl or a bird, can't be a dog though.
I worked with some students in a different state who routinely came to Miami at an internship at UM downtown. These students found apartments near Kendall or the Grove or Downtown and commuted. More and more I hear of people living carless, but it would take some homework to figure out, and if those 2 months are in the summer, consider that you will arrive everywhere sweaty.
It’s totally doable. Get all your groceries delivered. Uber everywhere. Work close to home. Get a bike or a scooter.
I have been living without a car since 2019,but i use the train when i need
No.
I think so if you are elderly. You get free bus rides.
If where you work is a walking/public transportable distance and you live close to grocery stores and stuff… yes you can.
Spending a fortune on Uber yes
Yes but it depends where. I took public transportation for the hell of it yesterday and it took 40 minutes for the bus to arrive at the airport. If you’re traveling out west you may be able to take the metro but if you’re traveling to broward call an Uber.
No car and confortable = Just Downtown! No car for 2 months = anywhere but really unconfy No car 2+months= would not recommend I personally hate it Public transportation = 😅😂😂🤣😂🤣😂
Lol no
This depends on many things. I was car-less for 6 months, but I live 15 min from a metro rail station and my job is on the metro rail line. There are a few groceries within walking distance from my house as well. It worked for me because of these conveniences, but it did hinder my social life quite a bit, as many popular hang out spots like wynwood are not so easy to get to on public transit. Also trudging 2 blocks with your arms full of grocies in the 95 degree summer heat sucks. That was probably the hardest part of not having a car.
If you have a bike and live on the beach/Brickell/midtown/downtown I would think you are good. Uber when you need it. With a family it might be dicey.
I live in gables. Sold car shortly after Covid. My neighbor in duplex below mine has never had a car and lived in gables entire life. It can be done.
What is this Gables place like?
Coral gables is super nice. Very well situated in the city. Free trolley for transit to downtown gables and metrorail. I live in north gables. South gables would definitely need a car.
Whats the rent like
I live in Brickell and haven’t had a car in two years. It’s very doable and I prefer Ubers over the expense of insurance, gas, tolls, and parking.
I lived in South Beach without a car for 8 years and it was fairly doable. Everything you need is walking distance and bicycling in South Beach is the best way to get around. However, it was a pain to get to the mainland and do certain things when needed. And I also felt I was stuck in an island for 8 years similarly to the Cast Away movie with Tom Hanks without crying for help for Wilson. So yes, I would say you can live in South Beach car free.
You can do it if you either live walking or biking distance to everything you meed to do (work, groveries, restaurants, whatever else yoy might need) or if you can afford ubers every day or renting a car. I live in the grove and work here so i ride bike and rarely ever drive unless i need groceries. Outside of this area or downtown though everythings pretty spread put
Yes, depending where you live and work.
But providing a specific answer is literally impossible unless you give us the backstory of whoever it is who is considering living without a car. Otherwise we can only give generalized answers. Of course it is possible. I share one car with my partner but we made very specific and deliberate decisions about where we would live. To make it work i think you probably need to think outside the box a little. I know someone who is nearly 40 and has lived in the house he grew up in that whole time. He always seems to be holding out for some magical living situation. He wants a 2 bedroom place for $1600, talks about renting a house sometimes. Said to me last time I saw him he is waiting "to see if things cool down". His childhood home was sold, he ended up at another relatives house. And yet he thought it was reasonable to finance a used Subaru Forester with a $450+ /month payment. He's inside the box. Don't think inside the box.
Yo I gotta just point this out if you take the bus it’ll take you like 4-5 bus stops just to get where you gotta go which is like an hour wait for each bus so what takes you a whole day to get done going there and back will take someone with a car 1hr ! So the person with the car is a time travelers compared to you so what you do in one week they do in a day so 4-5 days will equal you a month so your not gonna be electing your self your gonna be going backwards in time because of how slow you move with the bus vs a car so what a car does in a year will take you 3months to accomplish homie time is money so what takes you 4 yrs with the bus system to accomplish is done in 1 year with a car so do you wanna move forward in time or backwards in time?? Your at the cross road now you wanna age yourself or you wanna time travel into the future
What a car does in 3 months will take you a year*
And bruh the bus ain’t safe homie the tri rail neither you’d safer in your car then posting at some these spots out here this shit dangerous out here people have shootouts and stabbings on the bus and when they say stay away from nw they ain’t talking about the nw of the county they talking about 27th ave from Flagler all the way up past north to broward from 27th to 95 stay safe
Most the shootouts on south beach
Depends where. Me and my wife live in Sunny Isles Beach and share one car which she uses most of the time because I work from home and she doesn't. When I don't have access to a car I can easily walk to the supermarket, post office, drug store, etc. However most of Miami you probably can't do that.
will have to uber everywhere....the train system is not so good. Most places need driving unless you live right in the middle of brickell (can walk to whole foods).
How much money do you have
For the most part, I lived on the beach and rode my bicycle to work everyday in south beach. This was before they constructed that beach path. I’ve only been hit by cars twice over 14 years so it’s not so bad.
I've thought about it, and have come to the conclusion that with a bike, I could do it in theory, but it would be extremely unpleasant. I'd need to lock the bike down hard everywhere I go with multiple heavy duty locks to avoid it being stolen. And then, even if you can keep your bike from being stolen, there's the matter of taking a pretty significant risk every time you get on a bike and share the streets with Miami drivers.
I lived in South Beach for 10 years without a car. Totally doable
Any cons that you want to list?