Miami’s New Mayor Labels City ‘Tip of the Spear’ in Nation’s Affordability Crisis

By Sam Barron | Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 10:26 PM EST

Eileen Higgins, the mayor-elect of Miami, said the city is at the tip of the spear of affordability during a press conference following her victory Wednesday.

“The city has to get to work, become more efficient, be more modern in how it embraces technology,” Higgins stated.

“The affordability crisis, we are the tip of the spear in America,” she added. “We’ve got to build more affordable housing.”

Higgins became Miami’s first Democrat to win the mayor’s office in nearly 30 years when she defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez by a 19-point margin in Tuesday’s runoff election. Gonzalez had been endorsed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump.

According to Payscale, the cost of living in Miami—Florida’s second-largest city—is 21% higher than the national average. Housing costs are 59% above the national average, while utilities and groceries exceed the national averages by 5% and 11%, respectively. A median home price in Miami is $823,000, with median rent surpassing $2,400. Monthly energy bills amount to nearly $218, per Payscale data.

Higgins, who will be sworn in later this year, is Miami’s first female mayor. During her campaign, Higgins frequently addressed concerns about Trump’s immigration crackdown in the city’s Hispanic-majority population, noting many residents feared family members would be detained.

“We are facing rhetoric from elected officials that is so dehumanizing and cruel, especially against immigrant populations,” Higgins told The Associated Press after her victory speech. “The residents of Miami were ready to be done with that.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sam Barron has nearly two decades of experience covering politics, crime, and business.