Living in Miami as a Latino? At this point it is almost a no-brainer to say that Miami is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the entire United States.
Living in Miami as a Latino: everything you need to know
For several decades, the capital of the sun has positioned itself as a true crossroads where thousands and thousands of people – immigrants, businessmen – from the most diverse latitudes meet. Here, the word multiculturalism abandons its rhetorical plane and becomes a palpable reality, visible in every corner. Examples of this are the city of Weston with its mostly Venezuelan population, the Colombian community of Doral, the Cuban sector in Hialeah, and the Russian inhabitants of Sunny Isles Beach with their preference to live near the sea.
It is also no secret to anyone that the Latino community has become one of the predominant in this city. According to official figures, Miami-Dade County concentrates the largest number of Latinos in Florida, with 1.8 million residents, equivalent to two-thirds of the total population of the county. That demographic reality has led some people to call Miami – a bit sarcastically, but not without little reason – as the northernmost city in Latin America.
Although in Miami the accents, flavors, customs, languages vary – and in general, all those signs of identity that make a city a multicultural epicenter in every rule -, the capital of the sun never loses that Latin essence. That’s why it’s important to note that any person or family in Latin America who is thinking of settling in South Florida – and specifically, living in South Florida County – and specifically, Miami-Dade-, you must be fully certain that the city will receive you with open arms, and that you will not have major difficulties to function on a day-to-day basis. On the contrary, Miami will always be considered as an ideal place to live for citizens of Latin America.
That said, in any case it is important to know how the day to day goes in the city, for which we have prepared this small guide with what you have to know.
Language
In general terms, we do not consider that not knowing English is an impediment to living and enjoying life in Miami to the fullest. According to statistics, this is the city in the United States where Spanish is most spoken. However, it is advisable to have basic knowledge in English as road signs and directions appear in this language. In addition, it is common to coincide with a foreigner (not Latino) as well as Americans who do not speak Spanish, and not speaking the language at all, may cause minor difficulties.
Transport
On short trips, the Metrorail or bus system turns out to be a good option, often to avoid incurring gas and parking expenses. But given the distances there are times when it becomes necessary to use a private vehicle; Rush hours can be difficult. Fortunately, there are alternatives that help in displacements such as preferential lanes by number of occupants (HOV lanes) or fast and exclusive lanes such as the Express Lane of I-95. The use of this express lane generates an additional cost, which is automatically debited from your card through a photographic system to the license plate of the car known as SunPass.
Food
One of the great advantages that Miami offers at the gastronomic level is that you do not have to go far to find everything. Being a cosmopolitan city, good food is everywhere. In addition, there are all kinds of options and influences. Just walk streets like Lincoln Road where it is possible to find an Italian restaurant and next door find one of Mexican food. There is also a wide offer and options to fit all types of budgets in places like Midtown, Calle Ocho or Hialeah.
But if the idea is to eat at home, supermarkets like Presidente, Publix or Walmart have a variety of products. In addition, depending on the area in which they are located, some chain supermarkets offer Colombian, Ecuadorian or Venezuelan products. A plus point is that they constantly have offers and discounts with coupons that can be of great help.
Culture
When it comes to music, arts and entertainment, Miami would seem to have endless options. The murals and galleries of Wynwood, the Dog Friendly beaches in Key Bicayne, the shows of the American Airlines Arena, the outdoor concerts and the artisan market of the Bayside Marketplace, the newly opened Pérez Art Museum: list everything that Miami It has to offer on a cultural level is an impossible task. Every night, this city offers hundreds of plans for all tastes.
In short, there are many reasons to live in Miami , but perhaps the biggest for Latinos is that it allows you to enjoy all the advantages of the United States, but at the same time without abandoning the proximity to the native country and the connection with their cultural roots.
