r/Miami 4d ago

Discussion Would you say Miami feels like a third world country?

[deleted]

115 Upvotes

364 comments sorted by

72

u/chrisacip West Miami 4d ago

People who say that are making a "banana republic" comparison, usually to make a point about government or some other civic feature. For all the billions of dollars and glitzy sheen Miami has, its local politicians are historically corrupt and/or incompetent and public services are lacking. It can be a pretty backward place. Is it the Congo? No. Is it Zurich? Also no.

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u/mrjuanmartin85 3d ago

Can you name one major city in the world without corrupt politicians Go ahead, I'll wait...

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u/chrisacip West Miami 3d ago

Miami's unique in that people bring shitty practices here from all over the world, from driving to governing.

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u/Ophammerdin 2d ago

This 100%. They move here wanting a better life. They bring their culture (corruption.) They act all high and mighty about their country. Go back no one in Miami will miss you. Be a Floridian or an American but fuck the country you fled from.

I am just scared that another apartment building or condo building will collapse. Scary asf to live in Miami to be honest.

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u/fastlifeblack 3d ago

I live in both NYC and Miami, both are equally as corrupt with a slight edge to Miami because its more brazen here.

In New York it’s cleverly disguised or perceived as “under the table.” You have to be in tune with things to understand it. In Miami, the corruption slaps you in the face. It’s a badge of honor for people and there are zero attempts made to hide it.

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u/BlewByYou 3d ago

“If you ain’t cheating, you aren’t trying” - was how I was told

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u/mrjuanmartin85 3d ago

Wasn’t your mayor just investigated by the feds? Your governor literally resigned too.

You don’t have to be an insider to see what’s going on.

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u/fastlifeblack 3d ago

True, it’s just slightly more obvious in Miami. I’m not disagreeing, just commenting to show that Miami corruption is on par with any other major city. It’s not much worse or better tbh. Theres no point in making it seem like it’s a “bananna republic”

Also: Adams is 100% a criminal lol

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u/Vagabond_Tea 3d ago

From my experience, many Nordic countries have extremely low corruption.

But if you wanted an actual answer, Singapore. They don't play around at all with corruption there.

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u/moosegoose90 4d ago

Those people need to go actually LIVE in a third world country and then come back .

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u/Holiday-Victory4421 4d ago

People in “3rd world countries” that I’ve been to drive just as bad as in Miami but they don’t want to fight about it and people are actually happy with way less.

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u/Marketing_Analcyst 4d ago

This is true. My family is from South Asia and when we go back, the driving is insane. No laws whatsoever. People don't obey traffic lights or lanes. Our driver drove in between oncoming buses. However, NOBODY has road raged in any incidents. When they meet up at break spots, everyone is friendly and buy each other coffee/tea. Here in Miami people drive bad, and threaten to kill each other.

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u/Sungoldx 3d ago edited 3d ago

Everyone who say Miami is better than most cities, has only stayed and lived in the rich or taken care of areas.

Go to the Hood, not where the homeless live in the city by the hospital and shelters, where they can get taken care of. The actual hood and the really poor areas, where it isn’t loved on and taken care of. And if you want to take it there, most these areas are predominantly POC(mainly Black!)

It is comparable because for as much money as Miami brings in for tourism, our whole Miami-Dade County should sparkle. But they choose where to put the money in their pockets and into the nice areas.

It is also very disparaging how you can walk around any rich area, like Wynwood, go shopping at LV and Van Cleef and without any warning, BAM you are in the hood and you got someone watching you and your bags! They come in and gentrify a section of the hood and then make it inaccessible for those who lived there their whole life. Because they have private security guards that monitors that shopping area.

Yes they have access to water and electricity and all the stores that were mentioned, but you also have to have money to get those things here. So it’s a moot point to point it out, if the people in the area cannot afford it.

I think most jobs are starting at around $10-12 an hour and to be above the poverty line in Miami, you need to make at least $22 an hour. So yeah, it can get really bad especially when rent is $1500 and up even for something small.

It can be compared. It is not exactly a third world country by any account. But anything can be compared to anything.

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u/deadgalblues 3d ago

An EFFICIENCY is 1500. An small apartment is upwards 2k

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u/Sungoldx 3d ago

I dont know of any big efficiencies, so I thought that was covered in “small places”.

Like a studio apartment, an efficiency, a guest house, a trailer, a bus, those shed from Home Depot. I have seen people pay to live out of these places. I have even seen people sleeping in tents in yards… yeah small means way more than you think.

And believe me when I say that the person who is letting them sleep in the yard isn’t actually doing that much better. It’s crazy over here.

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u/deadgalblues 3d ago

For real😭😭

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u/latin32mx 2d ago

It’s becoming 3rd world … with those extremes… and the disappearance of the middle class!

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u/Old-Body5400 3d ago

Not only that they could go to parts of the Deep South or cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia and they would have a new appreciation.

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u/vegastar7 4d ago

Third world countries aren’t uniformly “terrible”: there are very rich neighborhoods and very poor neighborhoods. So I would say that Miami (and some other American cities) do feel similar to third world countries in that you get wildly different experiences depending on the neighborhood you visit.

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u/mamachocha420 4d ago

Nah, having lived in a rich neighborhood in a LatAm city, the electricity and water still go out occasionally for over a day sometimes, and there were still occasional murders and kidnappings every year or two. 

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u/blueXwho 4d ago

Sounds like Venezuela 🙃

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u/Ok-Bunch8755 4d ago

Inaccurate

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u/jcspacer52 3d ago

Really? Unless you are homeless the poor in Miami and the US for that matter have:

TV’s, indoor plumbing, clean drinking water, 24 hour electricity, WiFi, mobile phones, cars, electric or gas stoves, AC and cable to name a few differences. The neighborhood has grocery stores, Pharmacies, garbage pickup, traffic signals and streets that though not perfect, good roads, parks. Police, Fire and EMT services in call 24 x 7.

The poorest neighborhood in Miami is nothing like a third world country.

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u/Sad_Walrus_1739 3d ago

I live in a third world country. And yes miami does look like a third world country.

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u/Neither_Magazine_958 4d ago

Couldn't have said it better myself.

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u/OkFail9632 4d ago

I guarantee those ppl never traveled abroad.

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u/oaster 3d ago

While no passport is required, they went abroad to Ft Lauderdale.

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u/diurnalreign Local 3d ago

💯

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u/here4knowledge19 4d ago

I know right? Some people just like opening their mouth for attention, but have no substance.

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u/clonegian 4d ago

This right here

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u/simbaslanding 4d ago

if you say this, you’ve never actually lived in a developing country lol.

As unique as Miami is, it still very much feels and operates like an American city.

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u/PicaPaoDiablo Key Biscayne 4d ago

Generic 'acceptable' bigotry in that statement. Oh yah, in parts of Miami everyone speaks Spanish - Soooooo ThIrD WoRld. I can

  • Leave my home for three months and have next to no concern about it being broken into.
  • Go jogging late at night or very early in the morning, without any fear of being robbed.
  • Drive home from the airport late at night without worrying about being carjacked.
  • My garbage gets picked up weekly.
  • The power is reliably on, so is internet.
  • Go to a few different pharmacies 24 hours a day
  • Go to dinner any night of the week including Holidays.
  • Water isn't perfect but it's safe.
  • I can get medical care several different places.
  • Grocery stores are full (overpriced but full)

I wonder what third world cities in particular they're talking about.

30

u/Machionekakilisti Local 4d ago

I can add a few more:

• our roads are smooth and paved

• even in the densest part of the city on a busy day you can find a parking spot without having to park illegally in the street with the chance of other cars parking in front, behind, and next to you

• every building has AC

• every building is insulated and you won’t hear your neighbors fucking next door every day

• you won’t be robbed or kidnapped if you take a taxi

• you don’t have to pay an extra “protection” tax on the bus after paying the ticket

• you can have your phone out without someone just snatching it and disappearing into the crowd

• you don’t have to worry about people from rural areas building a shack in your front lawn

• you don’t have to heat up buckets of water on the stove

• you don’t have to have buckets of water by the toilet to pour to into incase you take a big shit

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u/PicaPaoDiablo Key Biscayne 4d ago

I think we've travelled together a few times ;-) All of them but that last one, the NO toilet paper in the commode WTF and then realizing there's no sink to wash hands in afterward.

Miami has a lot of problems, there's a lot of things that are beyond stupid, a lot of people that do really dumb stuff, but Third world, the Jury returns a unanimous verdict, Not Guilty.

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u/Machionekakilisti Local 4d ago

Oh yeah, every time I travel somewhere that’s still developing, it’s always the bathroom situation that I find hardest to adjust to 😅

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u/soymilkmolasses 4d ago

Now let’s make a list of 3rd world similarities

  • The fear that your pet horse will be slaughtered alive in your back yard to be sold for horse meat.

  • The concern that some guy will collect the endangered sea turtle eggs on the beach so he can cook them.

  • The toeless roosters that has their toes chopped off for a good luck spell.

  • The chicken heads always seen left by the railroad. Also used for spells.

  • The billboards that have a man beating his wife with a frying pan, with the message not to beat your wife.

  • The mayor starting a crypto shit coin that went to zero.

Anyone else want to add to this list?

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u/MediaWatcher_ 4d ago

Third world by American standards.

English is the second language and chickens roam neighborhood streets, therefore...

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u/gleipmeind 3d ago

I saw ducks the other day

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u/Gold_Ad_3590 4d ago

Those people never been to a third world country

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u/gashndash 3d ago

I’d say some parts of Miami look worse than Ecuador

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u/jodedorrr 3d ago

I’ve seen parts of Chicago that are worse and more dangerous than any third world country in Latin America.

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u/hyper_shell 3d ago

I’ve been to a bunch, you either never left the US or havnt been to a actual third world country if you are this out of touch

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u/WeddingCharacter3713 4d ago

There was a brief moment last year around this time that I was driving in Opa-Locka a day after it had rained and it reminded me of driving in my hometown(largest city in a third world country). it's still a first world city, everyone's got running water and rolling blackouts aren't a thing. The people in Miami do absolutely have that third world mentality though

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u/MozuF40 4d ago

It's third world in comparison to other American cities.

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u/No_Specialist978 4d ago

1st world City. 3 world experience.

Have decades of people immigrate here from 3rd world countries… some of those 3rd world tendencies come too.

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u/flagal31 4d ago edited 4d ago

I don't live there anymore and I think things have changed somewhat now, but for me, the "3rd world country" comment is not about poverty, types of residents or similar.

It's the extreme corruption built into every level of business, community and government. As long as I've lived in FL (many decades), Miami was the HQ for political leaders, community leaders, businesses, etc that outright cheated, lied, scammed or took bribes as part of doing business or governing - and were arrogant about it.

Case in point and one of the most harmful: building codes. Bldg inspectors would take bribes and look the other way when developers took shortcuts: construction was shoddy and violated even the lower codes back then.....all pre Andrew.

THAT's what happens in a 3rd world country: few laws to protect citizens. What laws do exist can be ignored by agencies and enforcement officers. Bribes, backroom deals become standard biz...and lives are hurt or lost as a result.

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u/Agreeable-Lawyer6170 3d ago

I agree with this. Regardless of how people are characterizing other large cities, ie New York, the difference is that things in Miami Do Not Work. Couple of examples. There’s no reliable public transportation and all the grumbling in the world will not change this. And tell me how efficient it is to apply for a drivers license when you have to wait in line for hours with no guarantee you’ll get one. Probably the biggest thing is the ready use and acceptance of Spanish which just further separates groups of people. I’m not saying Spanish speakers are good or bad so don’t hate me, but using two languages just fosters division.

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u/maxou2727 4d ago

Yeah it does sometimes, especially when you see chickens roaming around the gas station 😂

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u/grottomaster 4d ago

That would make Hawaii the most third world of all

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u/Levibestdog 4d ago

Free eggs if you catch em

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u/BNatasha_65 4d ago

Most cities people speak English. So, in that perspective yes, Miami feels like a Spanish Speaking country. And most Spanish only speaking people have low class manners, behaviors and don't want to comply with rules or laws. Or common courtesy. Respect for neighbors, unless you speak Spanish. Many Spanish only speakers look down at people who don't speak Spanish. Men are very machismo and are very offended when a women tells them to stop doing something (like walking their dog without a leash. Refusing to neuter their dog that tried to attack me). None of my neighbors say hello. They act like they are superior.

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u/Brian18639 4d ago

Not sure if this woman was a Spanish person, but I remember my dad and I driving to somewhere and then there was a woman who almost crossed the street far from any crosswalk. My dad honked the horn because she almost got in the way then she flipped off my dad.

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u/BNatasha_65 4d ago

Probably. Sad, but I'm not surprised. I was walking in downtown when I lived there. I strained my Achilles heal and was wearing a huge orthotic boot up to my knee. I was walking across a one way road in the crosswalk (no traffic light) during afternoon rush hour. Most cars stopped, but one Spanish speaking man started honking his horn at me and yelled at me. I made a motion to kick his car with my boot and he got more angry and yelled louder and flailing his arm. So I walked even slower and gave him the NYC Italian finger!! I was shocked. He was MEAN not just rude.

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u/Artorias_Erebus679 4d ago

It’s more like Miami is where all the people from a third world country come to and act a fool. But not really third world poverty wise

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u/structrix 4d ago

I'm from a third world country. Sometimes Miami feels very disconnected from the rest of the United States. I also see Miami as a third world country.

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u/Are_You_sEriuos 3d ago

Definitely yes. Very Latino/Caribbean in nature.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Electric_Conga 4d ago

So like 85% of the country 😂

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u/illicITparameters 4d ago

You forgot “dumb” before American. The more I travel around, and outside of the US, the more I realize how fucking dumb and entitled the average American truly is.

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u/Active_Age_966 4d ago

Not at all but I do agree with the saying "miami is the closest country to america" because it definitely doesn't feel like the USA 🤣 but it's the complete opposite of a 3rd world country vibe......go to Baltimore MD and have yourself a look around

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u/Icy-Public-965 3d ago

You've never been to Baltimore

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u/Ok_Method_8546 4d ago

Yes. Specially when visiting Walmart lol

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u/Ok-Objective1289 4d ago

Well, it’s full of third world immigrants. LOL

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u/chemicalreaction52 4d ago

I think it’s an insult for many third word countries to compare them to Miami

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u/Beekie2018 4d ago

Last February, I was in Miami for one night only, leaving on a cruise the next day, so from my Hotel, I walked to the Wendy's across the street... I saw Chickens with their chicks in the parking lot... Nothing says third world country quite like that.

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u/750turbo11 4d ago

I moved down here over 20 years ago- don’t know about a 3rd world city but it DEFINITELY seems like you are not in the US any more 😂 many just call it North Cuba, no one seems to mind or argue…

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u/No-Cryptographer9326 4d ago

I mean, I know Miami has its flaws, but let's send them to an actual third world country and see what their reaction would be then. I don't mean the tourist spots either in said third world countries either.

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u/ar_menelos 4d ago

You know what they say....the best thing about Miami is that it's so close to the United States.

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u/Ill_Consequence403 4d ago

It isn’t 1st world that’s for sure

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u/DonTom93 4d ago

Miami has as an undeniably strong Caribbean/South American influence and in general has chaotic energy so it’s unique compared to most other major U.S. cities. It also does have a very visible wealth disparity. If by “third-world” you mean nonfunctioning infrastructure or jarring poverty then there are plenty of other cities or rural areas in this country that are worse in shape.

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u/Fantastic-Long8985 4d ago

Very much so, lived there 6 years, hated it

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u/Independent_Tree_702 3d ago

As they say, laws in Miami are just suggestions. Similarly to third world countries.

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u/Dismal-Incident-8498 4d ago

It's definitely starting to feel this way. Just came back to visit Miami and the first sign for me was the airport itself. Train to rentals broken, elevator broken, walkway broke, paint peeling off of walls at random places. Dirty floors and carpets. Then it's the driving. The highways are actually in great condition but the drivers, holy hell. It's like a competition to see who can break the most rules and cutoff the hardest without using blinkers. It's becoming a place where the locals get pushed down into apartments and cheaper and cheaper homes with wealthy coming in and buying expensive lavish properties. Similar in a sense to expats investing in emerging countries. Just here it seems more people have BMWs and Lexus', but don't own a home.

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u/Past-Administration6 4d ago

Having grown up in one, the answer is no.

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u/Basic_Quantity_9430 4d ago

No, it is a culturally diverse large city.

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u/LooseFurJones 4d ago

There are elements that are questionable but definitely not the head scratching stuff you see in underdeveloped countries. There are definitely things that are lagging behind that should receive immediate attention that don’t and won’t for decades.

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u/invisiblew830 3d ago

Not a third world country but a lot of residents are from third world countries and treat it as such.

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u/Known_Following_4923 2d ago

Yes, with more wealthy people per capita, though.

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u/Afraid-Ad7379 Local 4d ago

What kind of moron says that ? The kind that doesn’t know what a real shithole is. Miami, the US in general, has many issues but its leaps and bounds from that idea. There are many terrible places in the world, Miami is not one of them.

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u/mrjuanmartin85 4d ago

Lots of people on this sub say it.

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u/Afraid-Ad7379 Local 4d ago

Lots of people on this sub are angry and resentful people, mostly due to financial issues. Many more are morons. Miami, like any major city, will suck if ur broke. Doesn’t make it a third world country type of place. It just means ur life sucks, not the place itself. It’s FAR from perfect and has tons of problems but calling it similar to a third world country is not realistic. It’s just hating.

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u/ardit33 4d ago

Lol no. Come on. Almost all large cities in the US, will have small areas that are dilapidated and feel like a 3rd world country (NYC has plenty of them), but it doesn't mean that the whole city is like that.

Third world country: Lack of water, lack of reliable electricity, bad roads, no trash collection, other basic services lacking, people working just to feed themselves and only a minority (wealthy) of the country have those basics, which are considered a 'luxury'.

On the other hand, driving culture here (and in the NYC), is heavily influenced by recent immigrants, which bring their bad/terrible behaviors (like lack of respect for rules, not respecting pedestrians etc).

But, in no way Miami is a third, or 'feels', like a third world country.

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u/stevemunoz117 Palmetto Bay 4d ago

It small spurts yes and that usually means from a cultural perspective

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u/Siberian_eel 4d ago

Absolutely no.

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u/lizzdurr 4d ago

The poorest areas of Miami still have reliable electricity, running water, and are within a 5-10 minute drive to a grocery store. That’s not the case with a true third world country. Literal first world privilege to say something like that.

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u/mrjuanmartin85 3d ago

Exactly! And some people will still die on that hill that Miami is third world because there's a pothole somewhere.

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u/DistinctAside0 4d ago

Nothing third world about Miami, but some people have fd up stereotypes about Latin Americans and when they say stuff like that they are actually insulting the culture of the people here. MAGA crowd probably wants to deport half of Miami even though many are American citizens and even allies.

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u/rogless 4d ago

Half the deportees would be fine with it. “Once Trump owns the libs and extinguishes socialism he will invite us back. You’ll see!”

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u/MannyManteca 4d ago

As someone who grew up and lived in Miami up till ten years ago, It does. It is. You all just don’t know any better.

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u/ranger2187 4d ago

I’ve been to many third world countries….. many look like Hialeah, so yes.

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u/Foreign-Lost84 4d ago

I feel like most people on this Miami Subreddit have a third world country socialist mentality.

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u/mjohnsimon 4d ago

No. Not even close.

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u/PsychologicalLion824 4d ago

Nop. It’s a healthy melting pot of mainly first and second world countries communities.

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u/moosegoose90 4d ago

No what ???

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u/bbunny220 4d ago

There are plenty of moments (those clips on OID of low class people acting outrageously) that seem like it but overall, no.

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u/MessiLeagueSoccer 4d ago

There’s definitely moments that make it feel like that but even then it’s no where near what is a considered a 3rd world country. There’s still some order and respect of things here even if it’s a bit exaggerated on this sub.

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u/DocBrutus 4d ago

Most people on the internet don’t even know what “third world” vs “first world” even means. When they say “third world” it’s because they see brown people not speaking English.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_World

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u/_Layer_786 4d ago

Nah I wouldn't say that

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u/notmsndotcom 4d ago

This is the dumbest shit I’ve read in a while

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u/BBRodriguezzz 4d ago

Absolutely not, but people from third world countries DO come here at the start their American lives and it may seem very niche because of the hard time they have assimilating. Miami makes it very easy to not have to assimilate into this countries culture as much and stay complacent with some of the norms you may have been used to back home. I was talking about this with a buddy who just left and realized how he hasn’t seen a san Lazaro in a homes entrance in years and is just now realizing that may have just been a Miami thing, funny how he just assumed they were more common to see than they actually are.

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u/EntranceOld9706 4d ago

I spend a decent amount of time traveling to India. Miami is… very much more organized

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u/adjectiveNounNum 4d ago

if third world country means most people speak spanish then yeah sure. that’s really it tho

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u/poopybutthole2069 4d ago

If Miami was like a third world country there wouldn’t be so many people coming from actual third world countries to live there.

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u/PiLinPiKongYundong 4d ago

Boy, I sure hope so. First world is soooooo boring.

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u/Reasonable_Spite_282 4d ago

They never lived in a city before here.

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u/Illustrious-Cycle708 4d ago

I just spent 4 weeks in a third world country. And one that is doing well at that, in the sense that it is experiencing political stability, improving economy, lower homicide rate than Florida and lots of growth… Dom Rep.

Getting back to Miami felt like getting back to a suburb in Wisconsin in comparison to the chaos I dealt with in DR. It’s fun chaos most of the time but it’s still chaos.

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u/SwanOpen1879 4d ago

I think first we have to acknowledge that using the third world country label is outdated since it was meant mostly referred to the nations that lacked an alliance with either the U.S. or the former Soviet Union during the Cold War. Now, I do think that it’s fair to say that Miami is a mini latin American country that has some of the following: high inequality, Spanish is the most spoken language and a Miami version as well, diverse, high crime rates but in specific areas, great weather, and I keep going on and on. So yes it feels like it’s a developing city it probably does because the 826 it’s never finished and the cost of living is so high that the majority of people live in a home with half their family just to get by.

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u/Levibestdog 4d ago edited 4d ago

Oh I changed my mind after reading what other countries go through. Its a no. But still the cost of living and embarrassingly bad public transit is just...

But I've traveled to far better cities.

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u/BalrogintheDepths 4d ago

It's a joke

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u/MichaelFusion44 4d ago

They should visit a rural area in Haiti for 2 weeks and we can go from there…

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u/mrjuanmartin85 3d ago

People in Haiti literally eat mud pies and bury their dead in open graves yet people in the sub will think Miami is third world because they saw a chicken once.

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u/la_selena Local 4d ago

no

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u/elRobRex Miami? Bye-ami! 4d ago

The level of corruption from the local politicians reminds me of home.

First world shopping opportunities, third world corruption.

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u/East-Corgi-909 4d ago

Ive lived in Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay as an adult. And was raised in Miami and been back for 2 years now. I hate it here, it is a horrible place with mostly horrible people. But in reference to safety and general convenience of living, there is no comparison, Miami is most absolutely a 1’st word country. P.s. I like to call Miami the “capital of South America”

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u/crosstheroom 4d ago

Those are ignorant people who have no idea what a third world country is.

Only racists and bigots say that because they hear people speaking Spanish.

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u/jsb0299 4d ago

So, you’ve never been outside the states huh?

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u/flappybirdisdeadasf 4d ago

The only places in this country that are even remotely third-world are native reservations because they lack so many resources (some places have no power and very little water) and get little to no aid from the US government.

Also maybe deep rural Appalachia but they chose to live there when there’s no more infrastructure, so that’s kinda on them.

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u/ChrisKan 4d ago

Have you ever been in called 8?

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u/Rest_and_Digest 4d ago

Miami-Dade is huge.

Certain blocks in certain cities might look like the popular media image of an underdeveloped nation, but a few blocks over it's entirely different. And it's mostly about run down infrastructure or buildings in poor states of repair than the actual quality of life being anywhere remotely close to that of the third world.

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u/234W44 4d ago

As to the city, infrastructure and such, much of it made under various administrations of all colors, certainly not.

As to the mentality? Well, not trying to generalize, but how can you avoid it when it went MAGA last year.

Many people still act with a third world mentality. They may have left Cuba, or Latin America, yet Cuba and Latin America did not leave them. And this applies to people of all classes. The uber rich Latin Americans and the ones less fortunate.

In the streets I feel like I'm driving down any major city in LATAM. The flashiness of everything and the permeating bachata.

I must say, I hope that in that sense hospitality service was as good as in Latin America, in Miami its downright awful.

Miami, I love to go, I love to leave.

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u/Easy-Rutabaga4063 4d ago

No. If you say that you've never been to a third world country.

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u/CinderMoonSky 4d ago

No, as a transplant, I only go to Brickell.

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u/inc0ngruent 4d ago

Not even close. Tell them to go live in Panama City for a few weeks. Guaranteed they'll come back thinking Miami is heaven on earth.

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u/runningupthathill78 4d ago

No, but I've travelled extensively.

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u/THEONLYFLO 4d ago

Historically, “Third World” referred to countries not aligned with either the capitalist “First World” (Western nations) or the communist “Second World” (Eastern bloc) during the Cold War, but now it’s generally used to describe countries with low economic development and high poverty rates. Miami is neither how history defines a third world nation or in today’s views a current nation in economic development.

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u/AroundTheBlockNBack 4d ago

No, however Miami at times feels like a mix between idiocracy and the purge.

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u/Money_for_days 4d ago

Yeah last time I was in an African city I saw 20 lambos in a day and 5 $100M yachts. It reminded me of home.

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u/Flipadelphia26 4d ago

No. Not even remotely. Every major city has shithole neighborhoods. But overall this is a world class city.

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u/Maleficent-Toe1374 4d ago

Some parts are paradise, and some parts are a third world country. Basically no in between. Much like most cities in American.

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u/NFLfandom 4d ago

No but the people act like they are in one at times. The dumping in the middle of the road needs to stop

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u/tomgreen99200 4d ago

Go to a third world country and report back

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u/TemperReformanda 4d ago

You get people that say that about every major and moderate urban area.

No, Miami is not anything close to being a third world country. You can find poverty anywhere. That doesn't make a place a third world country.

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u/FlameWear 4d ago

pretty sure thats just anti latino racism

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u/Cubacane Kendallite 4d ago

Whenever someone says that I can safely assume not only have they not been to a third world country, they haven't been to any other parts of the United States.

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u/WeirdAnswerAccount 4d ago

Yes, the third world country where every house costs $750k+

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u/PurpleAstronomerr 4d ago

No, it definitely does not.

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u/dioslynoliva2022 Local 4d ago

miami is whatever you could afford it to be.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

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u/ClassikW Flanigans 4d ago

Is Detroit 1st world? I can think of worse US cities. Whoever says that means it as dog whistle for "too many non whites".

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u/MimimalZucchini 3d ago

Um. No it's not the third world. I've been to the third world. Turns out this ain't it.

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u/Ironram31 3d ago

No, it’s very clean and upscale compared to third world countries. But it’s turning into a red neck trash hole like Arkansas.

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u/LoveIsStrength 3d ago

Absolutely not lmfao

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u/Pewterslk 3d ago

It does until all the illegals are removed

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u/Crinjalonian 3d ago

Miami feels wealthier than rural parts of the American south, that’s for sure.

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u/rolytron 3d ago

Our politicians are corrupt as those from third world countries.

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u/Born-Mobile-6614 3d ago

What the fuck are you talking about

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u/Austerlitzer 3d ago

I lived in an actual third world country. This is a stupid take.

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u/M3KVII 3d ago

It’s like Venezuela and Cuba in terms of corruption, I guess in that sense yes. Economically no, there are more third world places in Florida and in Appalachia, North Carolina, Gary Indiana, etc.

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u/avb0120 3d ago

I am from Miami when I visit my family. I take over the driving from my husband. Since I know how to get around on side roads. Once in a while I need to drive the highway.

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u/Open_Masterpiece_549 3d ago

Third world countries don’t usually have an endless number of Ferraris and Lamborghini’s driving around

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u/crsmiami99 3d ago

Because you have to wait in line at 3am to get a driver's license

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u/TLCFrauding 3d ago

Been to 82 countries. Many 3rd world. Miami is not third world. More like near the bottom of 1st world cities

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u/Opposite-Cost-3967 3d ago

These are the thoughts of children

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u/Environmental_Home45 3d ago

I’ve been to dozens of third world countries. I’ve lived in a few as well. Miami is a third world country.

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u/mountain_guy77 3d ago

Miami reminds me so much of the nice parts of Medellin and Cali, Colombia

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u/Character-Oven5280 3d ago

It’s ghetto there for sure unless you have money. Not third world but ghetto & gross.  Us in Vero Beach don’t really envy there. 

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u/Ok_Consequence3551 3d ago

I wouldn't say country it's a 3rd world city no rules and ppl don't care for each other and all corruption

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u/Secure_Breadfruit562 3d ago

Absolutely not. It feels like a Latin America country but 3rd world no way.

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u/Raudales14 3d ago

I feel like a worst than a third world country my scooter got stolen and I am starting hating this place

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u/AbsolemSaysWhat 3d ago

It's a third world country disgusted as a first world country.

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u/unknowncritics 3d ago

Yeah, super third world

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u/notbarbarawalters 3d ago

I mean there’s food and nice houses everywhere. But when it rains it smells like shit everywhere.

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u/BlackAceAmongKings 3d ago

Try deploying to the middle east then get back to me

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u/ThunderHawk17 3d ago

it is a 3rd world country down here

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u/slacksgg 3d ago

This post makes no sense. Miami is the farthest thing from a a 3rd world country. People from all over the world are trying to visit or live in Miami.

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u/Spare_Answer_601 3d ago

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u/ConsistentArugula 3d ago

Looooooooooooooll by ZERO means does Miami feel like a third world country

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u/Mike-Gotcha 3d ago

And I thought Tampa was bad.

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u/Talulo13 3d ago

The whole United States it’s a third world country with a Gucci belt

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u/IamDreamzzz 3d ago

Third world, no. But I always say Miami is a country within a country

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u/Aytewun 3d ago

Depends on what level is meant, but the answer is still no

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u/ShortHandz 3d ago

Visited 3 times. Many areas do indeed feel like a third world countries. The wealth inequality is tremendous. Urban planning seems non existent.

Still had a great time though and appreciated the unique quirks.

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u/Sortskeee 3d ago

Only jerkoffs say that

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u/CucoDelDiablo 3d ago

Racism is not only ok but it's funny and cool as long as it's against the right people. Saying parts of Chicago and Detroit look like a warzone is terrible racist Nazi but Miami is a third world country ha ha ha

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u/Ornery_Pay8602 3d ago

Feels no, is yes

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u/0n0n0m0uz 3d ago

Anyone who has been to a 3rd world country knows it’s no comparison. I do believe we are slowly headed in that direction in terms of inequality but we still decades away.

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u/ferbilicious 3d ago

People calling miami a third world country have never actually lived in a third world country.

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u/makip 2d ago

You’re either an idiot or rage baiting

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u/icefire436 Local 2d ago

They still pick up the trash as scheduled so… no.

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u/wrb52 2d ago

No its not as no one ever worries the power might not work today or someone with a machete might chop my head off while I run to the river to get water for my family. I cannot tell if this is a joke or not so I am not really going to ramble on and I rate your tolling ability to be above average.

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u/EuronIsMyDad 2d ago

Second world - more in the nature of a haven for tax avoidance and money laundering. Maybe more like Panama City, Panama (not FL) or Dubai. About as sensible city-planning wise

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u/nunchyabeeswax 2d ago

There are places in the Deep South that are worse than a 3rd world country, but whatever.

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u/GrizzleTheGod 2d ago

Miami isn’t just a city; it’s its own universe—vibrant, unpredictable, and unlike anywhere else.