Cost of Living in Florida (vs. Your State)

Florida is home to beautiful beaches, scenic rivers & parks, space exploration, and theme parks galore.

It can also be your home too.

Living in Florida means waking up to palm trees swaying in the breeze, warm temperatures year-round, and an endless array of outdoor activities.

Whether you're a sand & surf lover, nature enthusiast, or someone seeking the energy of bustling cities, Florida offers something for everyone.

With cities such as Tampa and Orlando as diverse as its landscapes, you can find the perfect community for you.

In short, living in Florida provides a lifestyle that many dream about.

But how affordable is it to call this vacation destination home?

Though the cost of living varies depending on the city or town you’re looking to move to, let’s examine side-by-side, state-vs.-state comparisons and discover why living in Florida is a dream come true!

(Details in the following comparisons use Forbes Advisor’s Cost of Living Calculator contrasting Tampa, Florida, with an equivalent city using a pre-tax household income of $70,000, and are accurate at the time of writing.)

Cost of Living in Florida vs California

California is as varied as Florida in its housing opportunities and places to live, and we’ll use San Diego as a comparable city. With this in mind, the cost of living in California is 33% higher than Florida. Homes cost a whopping 124% more in California, while utilities are 21% higher. Healthcare is 13% higher, and the average cup of coffee will cost you a little over 18% more in California than Florida. Coffee is representative of a product that many people consume daily.

Cost of Living in Florida vs Colorado

For Colorado, we look to Denver to base our comparisons. This makes the cost of living in Colorado 11% higher than Florida, with home prices being 32.7% higher. Transportation and utility costs are lower in Colorado (4% and 12% respectively), but healthcare is 10% higher. And that morning cup of coffee will cost about 13.6% more in Colorado.

Cost of Living in Florida vs North Carolina

Using Raleigh as an average city, North Carolina has an almost equal cost of living to Florida (just 1% higher). Homes cost about 1% lower in North Carolina, transportation is 9% lower, and utilities about 6% lower. Healthcare, however, is much more expensive in NC: 22% higher. And your first cup of coffee will cost just about the same in both states.

Cost of Living in Florida vs Texas

Texas is a big state—almost 5 Floridas could fit inside—and we’ve picked Houston for comparison. From this perspective, the cost of living in Texas is about 3% lower than Florida. Transportation is 9% cheaper, homes cost about 16% less, and utilities are 2% less expensive in Texas. Healthcare is close, but actually is 4% more in the Lone Star State. And a cup of coffee is just a little bit (4.1%) higher in Texas.

Cost of Living in Florida vs Georgia

Using Atlanta as a parallel, Georgia and Florida have almost the same cost of living (Georgia is 1% higher). Homes cost about 3% lower in Georgia, transportation 2% lower, and utilities 10% lower. Healthcare is more expensive in Georgia at 16% higher than Florida. But that cup of coffee is the same price in both states.

Cost of Living in Florida vs Tennessee

Memphis is our comparison city, putting Tennessee’s cost of living at 7% lower than Florida’s. Similarly, transportation and home prices are 12% lower, while utilities are 15% lower. Healthcare is 6% lower in Tennessee, and so is your average cup of coffee. However, it must be pointed out that Tennessee is a land-locked state, while Florida has beaches, ocean and gulf coasts, and Walt Disney World.

Living in Florida: Final Thoughts

Having a home in Florida means you’ll enjoy a vacation lifestyle every day. Natural wonders, history, and culture can be found in every direction. The Sunshine State offers many wonderful communities to call home, with some of our favorites being in Tampa and Orlando.

If you’re looking for a home in Tampa, make sure to explore Biscayne Landing at Seaire, Eagles Cove at Mirada, Lagoon Residences at Epperson, and Serengeti. And if you are searching for a new home in Orlando, we recommend checking out our homes in Parkview at Hamlin and Trinity Place. DRB Homes is ready to help you find your ideal location and home. Your best Florida life starts with scheduling a tour today!