Moving to Naples, Florida
Most relocation guides read like brochures. Sunshine, white sand, three hundred days of blue sky, the end. This is not that one.
What is actually inside
Sixteen chapters on living in Naples, not visiting it. Where locals actually eat. Which neighborhoods fit which stage of life. What insurance really runs. Which pediatric dentist people keep recommending. Where to take the kids on a rainy Saturday.
- 01The Quick Read on Naples
- 02Neighborhoods, by Parts of Town
- 03The Beaches
- 04Weather and Hurricane Season
- 05The Cost Question
- 06Schools
- 07Healthcare
- 08Where We Actually Eat
- 09What to Do, Saturday to Sunday
- 10Nails, Spa and the Everyday Stuff
- 11Arts, Culture and Getting Around
- 12The Real Estate Market Right Now
- 13What People Forget to Ask
- 14Finding Your People
- 15Where I Give
- 16A Note From Me
Short on time? Start with three
Chapter 2 for the neighborhoods, chapter 5 for what it costs, chapter 13 for the questions people forget to ask. Those three cover most of it.
The part most guides leave out
The hardest part of moving to Naples is not finding the house. It is finding your people. You can love the weather, the neighborhood and the beach and still feel unmoored six months in. Naples is friendly, but the people who moved here before you have already built their lives. You have to build yours, and that takes real intention.
The guide has a full chapter on it, along with my own list of the people I actually call here. Not sponsored, not affiliated. My chiropractor, my skin clinic, the two urgent cares where I know the physicians personally.
Questions people ask me before they move here
Is it expensive to live in Naples, Florida?
Florida has no state income tax, and Collier County runs one of the lowest total millage rates in the state at around 11.05 mills, with effective rates under one percent of market value. The expensive parts are housing, insurance and lifestyle rather than groceries or gas. Naples can be very tax efficient and very lifestyle expensive at the same time, and both are true.
How much is homeowners insurance in Naples?
Collier County averages have run somewhere around $5,500 a year, with coastal and waterfront Naples well above that. Homes insured over $1M commonly run $6,000 to $12,000 or more. Hurricane deductibles are a percentage of dwelling coverage rather than a flat amount, and flood is a separate policy. Get a quote on the specific house before you are under contract, not after.
What is the difference between east and west of I-75 in Naples?
West of I-75 is closer to the coast and more established, with the Vanderbilt Beach Road corridor carrying most of the newer growth. East of I-75 gives you more land and better value, and in Golden Gate Estates no HOA at all, running about twenty minutes to the beach. In Naples the first orienting question is always which side of I-75 you are on.
When is season in Naples?
Season runs November through April. The snowbirds arrive, traffic roughly doubles, and restaurants book weeks out. Summer is the locals season: hot, slow, beautiful and a fraction of the crowd. Your first season will surprise you.
Are Collier County schools good?
Collier County Public Schools ranked sixth of Florida sixty seven districts in 2025 to 2026 and has held an A rating nine years running. Zoning matters enormously to home value and boundaries do shift, so verify the current assignment for the exact address rather than the neighborhood.
What should I ask before touring a home in Naples?
What the HOA and CDD fees are, what they cover, and whether a club membership is required on top. Two homes at the same price can carry a nine hundred dollar a month difference in what you owe after closing. Then roof age, whether windows are impact rated, the finished floor elevation relative to base flood elevation, and whether a wind mitigation report exists.
Do I need flood insurance in Naples?
It depends on the specific address. FEMA maps place every property in a flood zone. Neighborhoods closer to water and lower in elevation are higher risk and flood insurance is lender required there. Many areas are lower risk where it is optional and far cheaper. Check the flood zone before you write an offer, not during inspection week.
How hard is it to make friends after moving to Naples?
Harder than people expect, and it is the part no relocation guide covers. Naples is friendly but it is not a college town, and the people who moved here before you have already built their lives. Recurring commitments work best: a weekly class or league, your kids activities, volunteering. Give yourself twelve months rather than six.
Twenty eight pages, sent straight to your inbox
Tell me where to send it and it is on its way. If you are still a year or two out, that is fine. Most of my clients started that way.
Informational only and reflects 2026 conditions. Tax, insurance, school and market details change, so always verify for your own situation. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice. Philly Rodriguez, Sales Associate, The Philly Rodriguez Group at Real Broker, LLC, FL License SL3516967. Equal Housing Opportunity.
