Unfortunately you have to pay the $18 to switch worlds.

If you are new to the game I would recommend one of the new worlds they added when the PS4 version launched:

Zodiark -> EUROPE
Jenova -> USA
Shinryu -> JAPAN

You would have to start over, no transfering to the new servers at the moment. I started a character on Jenova and it is busy with lots of people playing. I just recently came back from a break from the game and decided to play on the new server.