Miami Unfiltered: A Born-and-Raised Local Experts Guide to Where Locals Love to Live

I’m Allaire, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Miami, Florida, and I’ll start by saying that this city is so much more than the South Beach party scene you see on Instagram and TV. Having been born and raised here with most of my family still calling Miami home, I’ve watched this incredible city transform, grow, and surprise people who think they know what it’s all about.

Recommendations on ApartmentHomeLiving.com offer the best balance of livability and affordability based on our local expertise.  I’m here to spill the tea about the Miami that locals actually live, work, and play in – from the family-friendly suburbs up north where the Dolphins play, to the hidden gems that tourists never discover. While I can’t cover all of the amazingness in store in Miami in one article, you’ll walk away from this with real-time info for people looking to make Miami home.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Miami

Current Rental Pricing for Homes for Rent in Miami

Now, when looking for a great area to live in Miami here’s one of the things that drives me crazy: everyone talks about the same five neighborhoods south of downtown, completely ignoring the far north and south areas. Trust me, Miami is HUGE, and some of the best places to live are in both places. Let’s get into it.

The North Side Revolution: Where Real Miami Lives

Let’s start where most guides end, or never even go. There’s North Miami, where you’ll find a collection of distinct neighborhoods, and FIU’s north campus. This area includes everything from affordable family living to luxury waterfront estates.

Miami Gardens: The Sports Capital You Didn’t Know About

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Miami Gardens

Here’s the deal: Miami Gardens is home to Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play, the Miami Open tennis matches take place, and tons of concerts and major festivals. Yet, people act like it doesn’t exist when talking about Miami neighborhoods. I have a few cousins, friends, and other family members living in Miami Gardens that can tell you how diverse it is without South Beach prices. It’s continuously growing with good schools, their own police force, and the beautiful Rolling Oaks Park. You’ll find more homes with yards than apartments here and you can get to downtown Miami in about 20 minutes without traffic (with traffic… let’s leave that for another article).

The food scene is ridiculous, with Sunday’s Eatery, LC Roti Shop, and Calder Casino is also in the mix.

North Miami: The Underdog That’s Having a Moment

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in North Miami

North Miami often gets overlooked, but it’s the middle child of Miami neighborhoods on the northern side. It’s not flashy enough for the tourists, and not suburban enough for people who don’t want to live in the city, but it’s a great place for young professionals and families longing for the best of both worlds. Right down the street from Aventura Mall, it’s a diverse area with large apartments that are way less than what you pay for a studio in Brickell. Oleta River State Park is there with kayaking and biking trails for locals to enjoy, and the beaches are right over the bridge as well. It’s a pretty diverse area with good schools and neighborhoods.

Miami Lakes: The Planned Paradise

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Miami Lakes Area of Miami

If you’re looking for planned cities, Miami Lakes is it (there’s also the Hammocks, but that’s on the south side of the city). They designed this in the 60’s with beautiful, curved streets and lakes. The homes here are gorgeous and creates a good mix of community. I used to live in Miami Lakes and loved the tree-lined and the area that is designed for walking. There’s even a Main Street that feels like stepping onto a movie set complete with movie theater and much more. The area boasts a small-town vibe with local restaurants, shops, parks, and plenty of other attractions for locals to enjoy. The one thing I will say to consider is that the area can be a little pricey.

Aventura: The Upscale Northern Escape

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Aventura Area of Miami

The Aventura area is basically Miami’s answer to “what if we made an entire city around luxury shopping and high-rise living?” And in this area, it works.

My cousin lives in a massive condo building overlooking the Intracoastal and every time I visit her I’m quickly reminded why people pay so much to live there. There’s Aventura Mall, which has everything, beautiful beaches down the street, and lots of upscale restaurants. It’s a pricier part of town, but if you want resort-style living with concierge services, access to the marina, and sexy, amazing views, you’ll find it all in Aventura. Add in the great schools and well-maintained areas and you’ve got yourself a winner. My aunt always says living in Aventura is like being on permanent vacation.

The Classics That Really Live Up to the Hype

Now, let’s talk about the neighborhoods everyone knows about, but I'll give you some additional insight from my local perspective.

Little Havana: More Than a Tourist Trap

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Little Havana Area of Miami

This is a real neighborhood where real families live. Calle Ocho is a beautiful beautiful area where you can grab a Cafecito and watch dominoes at the park. The area is also ripe with places and markets that offer incredible fresh fruit and is host to many reasonable spots to live (if you know where to look).

Now, the authentic spots aren’t the ones with the tour groups. The authentic spots are the family restaurants and coffee windows where construction workers grab something quick at 6 in the morning. If you really want to see Little Havana in all its glory, come during Carnaval or Calle Ocho. I’m there every year with friends for the food, music, and community.

Downtown Miami: Our Cultural Heartbeat

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Downtown Miami Area

Downtown is consistently going through transformation, but culturally it’s where the magic happens. While tourists are gushing over the clubs on South Beach, downtown is where you go for world-class entertainment that doesn’t necessarily involve bottle service.

The Adrienne Arsht Center is beautiful. I saw Hamilton and have attended many events here. The acoustics are better than some Broadway theaters! Located right on Biscayne Boulevard, everything and every event seems to come to this place – the Miami Ballet and so much more. And on top of that, the building is a stunning, modern masterpiece.

Then, you’ve got the Kaseya Center, where the Miami Heat play and all the big concerts are held. Everything comes alive downtown. While the area is somewhat touristy, it has so much to offer locals. The views are incredible, there’s the Bayside Marketplace right there on the water, a variety of great restaurants, office buildings, hotels for a luxury stay, and condo options of every size available to renters. It can be pricey to rent in the area, so you will want to ship around and if you're living here then you'll also need to learn how to navigate the pre-game and post-game crowds.

Brickell: Manhattan’s Wannabe

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Brickell Area of Miami

The concept of Brickell is cool: Miami’s rendition of New York. That's cool, right? The high-rises are beautiful. The area has a wide variety of office buildings and live/work options for the young professionals in the area, great restaurants to dine at, and is very walkable. Now, the real question is whether you can afford to live there. I’ll say this…if you’re making good money and want an urban lifestyle, Brickell delivers. If you want to get around to work or visit some of the best restaurants in the city, the Metromover passes right through Brickell, is free and works.

One of the cool things about this area is that Downtown and Brickell literally flow into each other, so you get the best of both worlds. It’s very busy and parking can be expensive (if you can find a spot), but you’ll be in the thick of things. If you’re looking for cultural adventure, Museum Park is a great place to visit. It houses the Perez Art Museum Miami and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. The planetarium is nice, and there are incredible views of the bay. It’s basically culture without breaking the bank.

Wynwood: The Art District That’s Still Cool

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Wynwood Area of Miami

I’ve seen Wynwood go through the transformation I’ve been speaking of. It has gone from being a dull warehouse district to one of the coolest neighborhoods with tons of authenticity baked in. The galleries, Wynwood Walls, family-owned restaurants, and other things to do in the neighborhood all add to the intrigue. The apartments can be affordable here if you find the right place, and you’ll be immersed in art culture.

What Else To Know About Miami Living

The Transportation and Traffic Scene

I will say this – Miami wasn’t really built for the total number of people that live here now. Traffic seems to be getting worse by the day, especially so during the winter months. My recommendation for folks moving here is to learn the back roads, use an app to give you the best route, and live in places that are walkable if it’s close to your job and you can afford it. Also, you definitely want to have a car in Miami. While the Metrorail goes north to south, it only goes so far and not east. Public transportation is touch and go, but it does work if you are in the right places.

The Miami Weather

Miami is a seasonal place. December through March is usually considered the paradise mode when the weather is practically perfect and it’s crowded with all the snowbirds, festivals, and more. April through November is summertime. It’s hot and humid, but the prices drop and you get to enjoy the city. There are always thunderstorms going on, but they only last about 15 minutes (seriously). This time of year, you may get to have a hurricane party.

Hurricane Season: It’s a toss-up

Speaking of Hurricanes, every year people panic about hurricane season coming up, but the season is always a toss-up. I’m not saying it’s not something to be concerned about, but there are plenty of years when there are no hurricanes despite any amount of panic. It does get rainy in Miami and floods from time to time depending where you live, but you learn how to prepare, how to move accordingly if you live in a high-rise near the water, and you adapt. Don’t let hurricane season scare you away from a slice of paradise.

The Cost of Living

Yes, Miami is said to be expensive, and yes, it is. But here’s what the “Miami is unaffordable crowd” doesn’t say – there are pockets that are affordable (by Miami standards) if you’re willing to live outside the trendy zones. The key is in knowing where to look and being open to neighborhoods that don’t have the IT factor. We didn’t cover South Miami, Dadeland, Kendall, or Homestead, which are all options on the south side where you can find some pretty affordable options if you look around.

Hidden Gems That Make You Feel Like a Local

I couldn’t complete this without talking about other places to check out. The Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach, Virginia Key Beach Park, and the Kampong in Coconut are definitely well worth the visit.

The Bottom Line

As a true native of Miami, I’ve seen areas grow and expand, get revived, and new pockets form. It’s definitely more than what’s on the surface, you just have to know where to go to find a neighborhood that works for you in terms of what you want and affordability. The best Miami neighborhoods are those where you can afford to live and not survive paycheck to paycheck. While it’s not perfect, it’s my home. Yes, the traffic can be better, it’s expensive, gets really hot in the summer, but it’s someplace you can swim in December, your neighbors may be from any part of the world, and your food options are limitless.

Welcome to Miami, my home. Now, let’s find yours.