Cost of living in Florida
Prices in Florida are 3.4% above the US average (11th highest of 51). Florida has no income tax on wages. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in Florida
| BEA RPP 2024 | Florida | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.4 | +3.4% |
| Goods | 98.1 | −1.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 122.1 | +22.1% |
| Utilities | 90.1 | −9.9% |
| Other services | 101.3 | +1.3% |
Metros in Florida
Metros whose principal city is in Florida. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 6,391,072 | 114.2 | $2,564 | $200 | $369 |
| Tampa, FL | 3,418,895 | 100.9 | $1,917 | $240 | $978 |
| Orlando, FL | 2,957,672 | 101.4 | $1,959 | $225 | $886 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,785,500 | 99.5 | $1,694 | $225 | $1,191 |
| North Port, FL | 948,158 | 102.4 | $2,188 | $210 | $736 |
| Cape Coral, FL | 875,607 | 102.3 | $1,835 | $200 | $1,048 |
| Lakeland, FL | 874,790 | 97.1 | $1,608 | $230 | $1,274 |
| Deltona, FL | 746,933 | 99.4 | $1,673 | $200 | $1,249 |
| Palm Bay, FL | 663,982 | 100.0 | $1,779 | $200 | $1,087 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 568,721 | 100.2 | $2,069 | $235 | $894 |
| Pensacola, FL | 544,949 | 97.7 | $1,548 | $185 | $1,253 |
| Ocala, FL | 442,660 | 95.2 | $1,394 | $185 | $1,411 |
| Naples, FL | 417,131 | 103.2 | $2,036 | $225 | $742 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 397,442 | 93.9 | $1,424 | $180 | $1,348 |
| Gainesville, FL | 359,036 | 96.7 | $1,471 | $250 | $1,371 |
| Crestview, FL | 315,098 | 97.0 | $1,908 | $225 | $906 |
| Panama City, FL | 231,174 | 97.3 | $1,651 | $215 | $1,095 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 217,212 | 100.5 | $1,575 | $199 | $1,408 |
| Sebastian, FL | 172,799 | 98.3 | $1,542 | $185 | $1,433 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 171,666 | 93.5 | $1,194 | $175 | $1,624 |
| Wildwood, FL | 157,772 | 85.4 | $1,324 | $225 | $1,473 |
| Sebring, FL | 111,122 | 92.5 | $1,259 | $170 | $1,590 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Florida (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Florida income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Florida payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,530 | $5,133 | $7,771 | $8,765 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro).
Childcare prices across Florida
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $200 | $12,713 | $166 |
| Toddler (2) | $167 | $10,593 | $150 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $155 | $9,853 | $145 |
| School-age (5–12) | $115 | $7,339 | $119 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $130 a week in Suwannee County to $305 in Palm Beach County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 58 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | $288,800 | $2,773 | 0.96% |
| Broward County | $414,600 | $3,890 | 0.94% |
| St. Lucie County | $347,300 | $3,241 | 0.93% |
| Palm Beach County | $447,300 | $3,858 | 0.86% |
| Charlotte County | $328,900 | $2,785 | 0.85% |
| Santa Rosa County | $329,800 | $1,891 | 0.57% |
| Okaloosa County | $351,200 | $2,011 | 0.57% |
| Gadsden County | $174,900 | $927 | 0.53% |
| Washington County | $171,000 | $792 | 0.46% |
| Walton County | $425,100 | $1,902 | 0.45% |
Five highest and five lowest of 45 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Florida
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 573,876 in, 506,246 out (net +67,630).
- New York50,661 ±6,714
- Texas45,259 ±12,219
- California36,194 ±5,759
- Georgia34,388 ±6,124
- Pennsylvania33,530 ±6,458
- Virginia28,901 ±6,694
- North Carolina25,865 ±5,677
- Illinois24,410 ±4,381
- Georgia52,371 ±8,290
- Texas52,219 ±8,571
- North Carolina33,591 ±4,724
- New York28,080 ±4,963
- Pennsylvania25,048 ±7,963
- Virginia24,818 ±3,909
- Ohio20,338 ±3,696
- Michigan19,282 ±4,668
Frequently asked questions
Is Florida expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Florida’s overall price level at 103.4 in 2024 (US = 100), the 11th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 122.1 and goods 98.1.
Does Florida have a state income tax?+
No — Florida does not tax wages.
What is the sales tax in Florida?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Florida?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Homosassa Springs, FL leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,624), and Miami, FL the least ($369).