In a recent TikTok video, a Cuban woman who goes by @housekeepingdaiana shared her experience of relocating from Orlando, Florida to Missouri, highlighting the differences in cost of living and job stability between the two states.
"The rents are much cheaper than in Florida. I compare it to what I had in Orlando. My apartment was a two-bedroom, with a small kitchen and small dining room, and a living room, no laundry, I was paying $1,750 for that rent. Here in Missouri, I have a rented house with five bedrooms. Downstairs has a half bath and upstairs a full bath. I have a laundry, a huge yard, and space for four cars. I pay $1,650," she explains in the video.
Although she doesn't recommend everyone move to Missouri, she notes that her personal experience has been positive thanks to the support she received. "I'm not saying you should come to Missouri or leave Florida because it's not that easy either. We had people here who helped us with rent and work. It's not the best job, but in Florida, my job was slow, they were cutting our days. My husband's job was unstable. Here the job is stable, and where I am, I get my hours. I work less than in Florida, but it's stable. For me, it's better to live away from Florida."
This Cuban woman, who works as a housekeeper, also shared the case of a friend who found affordable housing in Missouri. "I have a friend who rented a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, with a huge living room. It costs her $1,200. In Florida, what two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo costs that?"
She acknowledges that Missouri isn't as attractive as Florida but values economic and job stability more. "This is not as pretty as Florida. I compare it in every way, and it's not pretty, but I came to this country with my feet on the ground and to work, not to be in a pretty place where you look for a job, they exploit you, and pay you little. I don't see the point of being in a place like that. My respects to those who have done well in Florida, but not everyone is that lucky. We decided to come here, and it is the best."
With this testimony, she seeks to reflect the challenges and decisions many immigrants face in seeking a better life in the United States, emphasizing the importance of job and economic stability over the aesthetic appeal of a city.
In response to her experience, many other Cubans have shared their own stories in the video's comments. "Just like she says, I lived in Florida and had to move to Missouri, and here I have a spacious apartment and a stable job," "My family and I have been in Miami for 11 years and we have nothing, just debts and worries. We've decided to move to Georgia, and I think it's going to be the best," "I was paying $1,400 for a one-room efficiency with its bathroom in Miami. Single mother with my kids. I moved to Tennessee because my mom is here, and now I pay $900 for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house," or "I've lived in Missouri for 10 years, and here I've been able to have a paid-off house, paid-off car, business, and job."
Questions and Answers on Moving from Florida to Missouri
The following FAQ section addresses common questions about the experiences shared by immigrants moving from states like Florida to Missouri, focusing on cost of living and job stability.
Why did the Cuban woman decide to move from Florida to Missouri?
She moved due to the lower cost of living and greater job stability in Missouri compared to Florida.
What are the differences in rent costs mentioned in the video?
In Orlando, she was paying $1,750 for a two-bedroom apartment without laundry. In Missouri, she rents a five-bedroom house with a huge yard and laundry for $1,650.
Did she recommend others to move to Missouri?
No, she did not recommend everyone move to Missouri, as it depends on individual circumstances and the support system available.
What is valued more in Missouri compared to Florida, according to the Cuban woman?
She values economic and job stability more in Missouri compared to the attractive scenery of Florida.