($1,543) Movers From Madison, WI to Tallahassee, FL

What to know before moving from Madison to Tallahassee

Moving from Madison to Tallahassee means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Madison than in Tallahassee, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Madison compares to Tallahassee so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Tallahassee are 12% lower than in Madison, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Tallahassee.
  Home prices in Tallahassee are 22.9% lower than in Madison.
• Income in Tallahassee is 22.0% lower than in Madison, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Tallahassee include Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Florida A&M University.
• The cost of living for a single person in Tallahassee is 11.9% lower than in Madison. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Tallahassee is 15.1% lower than in Madison.
• The unemployment rate in Tallahassee is 54.55% higher than in Madison.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Tallahassee, since the city’s sales taxes in Tallahassee are 36.36% higher than in Madison.
• One perk of moving to Tallahassee is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Madison.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,642.67 in Tallahassee to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Madison.

How life is different in Madison vs. Tallahassee

• Tallahassee might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 25% less than Madison.
• Getting around Tallahassee without a car might be more difficult than in Madison. Tallahassee has a public transportation score of 5 out of 10, whereas Madison is ranked 6. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Tallahassee neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Madison. Based on its score of 30 out of 100, Tallahassee isn’t as walkable as Madison, which has a score of 50 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Tallahassee, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Madison. While Madison has a bike-friendliness score of 66 out of 100, Tallahassee earned a 45. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• The crime rate in Tallahassee is higher than in Madison, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 58.35 in Tallahassee, it is 34.57 in Madison. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Tallahassee. With a crime index of 41.65, Tallahassee ranks lower in overall safety than Madison, whose index is Madison's 65.43. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Tallahassee and Madison is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Madison vs. Tallahassee move

• Weather: Tallahassee has long summers and short, mild winters, as well as drier springs and autumns.
• HOA rules: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• State licensing: Individuals and companies engaging in for-profit local and intrastate moving within the Sunshine State must register each year with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Consumer Services. Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in Florida, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While Florida doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to Tallahassee without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. Released Value Protection stands out as a cost-effective choice, provided by movers at no extra expense, although it comes with limited coverage. In this option, the mover's liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. To ensure comprehensive coverage matching the full value of your items, consult with your chosen moving company about alternative options or explore third-party insurance providers. Secure the best protection for your belongings during the move with these tailored coverage choices.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in Tallahassee

With your sights set on "Tally", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Tallahassee.

Helpful moving resources