Living as an immigrant in Fort Myers makes the advantages and disadvantages quite clear.

First, let's talk about the good points: Florida has no state income tax.

If you're moving from a place where you pay state income tax, the same salary means you won't have state taxes deducted, which is a benefit when calculating living expenses.

Housing prices are also relatively lower compared to major cities like LA or New York. Of course, it's not accurate to say that homes in Fort Myers are as cheap as they used to be.

However, you can still find single-family homes in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, which feels relatively realistic for those coming from big cities.

The weather is another big advantage.

Winters are really comfortable. There's almost no need to shovel snow, and you won't have to wear heavy winter clothes to go to work. Even in December or January, on nice days, you can play golf, take walks, and dine outdoors. This is one reason why people who have lived in cold northern areas enjoy Fort Myers.

On the flip side, you have to brace yourself for summer. It's hot, humid, and it rains often. Especially for those living in Florida for the first time, hurricanes can be the most unfamiliar aspect.

Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused significant damage to Fort Myers and the surrounding areas. So, the term hurricane season from June to November shouldn't just be thought of as a weather discussion.

It's good to know when to prepare bottled water and emergency supplies, when to fill up your car with gas, where your home is in relation to evacuation zones, and where to go if an evacuation order is issued.

If you buy a house, insurance is also important. "The house price is $350,000, so this should be manageable."

If you decide based only on the home price, you might be surprised by the higher-than-expected homeowners insurance premiums.

Insurance costs can vary significantly based on the location of the home, roof condition, year built, flood risk, and some homes may require separate flood insurance.

From a Korean perspective, another downside is that the Korean community is small.

The atmosphere is completely different from places like LA, New York, Atlanta, or Dallas, where you can manage a significant part of your life speaking only Korean.

This can be a bigger issue than expected for those who are not comfortable with English. While ordering food in English at restaurants might be fine, explaining symptoms in detail at a hospital or resolving issues with an insurance company is a different story.

The same goes for Korean food. While you can find basic Asian groceries, it's best not to expect an environment where you can just drive a little and find Korean markets and restaurants like in LA's Koreatown. You'll notice that options are limited if you want to do proper grocery shopping or find a variety of Korean restaurants.

On the other hand, there's the advantage of quickly adapting to American life.

Since it's hard to live only within the Korean community, you naturally encounter Americans and use English more often. If you don't mind building relationships with locals through church, school, work, and neighbors, it can actually be more comfortable.

Ultimately, Fort Myers is a city where evaluations can vary completely depending on the person.

If you value Korean markets, Korean restaurants, Korean hospitals, and a complex urban lifestyle, it might feel frustrating. Conversely, if you enjoy warm winters, the ocean, golf, and a relatively relaxed lifestyle, and want to live in a quiet place, it can be quite attractive.

To settle in Fort Myers as an immigrant, you only need to think of one thing: this is not a small LA. You need to consider whether you can adapt to the lifestyle of Southwest Florida. For those who fit that part, it's a pretty good place to live, while for those who don't, it can remain an uncomfortable city even after several years.