Moving to a state
Moving to Florida in 2026: Costs, Taxes and Is It Worth It
By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Published November 10, 2026.
Is Florida a good place to live?
Florida has no income tax and does not tax Social Security, and the state's median listed home sits near the national median. What changed is the flow of people: net domestic migration into Florida has dropped sharply from its 2021-22 peak. These are the numbers to weigh.
| Measure | Florida | New York metro |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday prices (US = 100) | 103.4 | 112.6 |
| Housing costs (US = 100) | 122.1 | 148.6 |
| Median listed home | $409,950 | $742,000 |
| Principal and interest a month | $2,253 | $4,078 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,873 | $1,997 |
US median listed home: $419,250 (Realtor.com, September 2026). Prices: BEA 2024. Rent: Census ACS 2025. Payment assumes 20% down at 7.32% (Freddie Mac).
Taxes in Florida
- Income tax: nonesource.
- Property tax: 0.80% of home value statewide; the median homeowner pays $3,180 a yearsource.
- Sales tax: 6.00% state, 6.98% with the average local ratesource.
- Social Security: not taxed by the state.
Who is moving to Florida
Florida gained 22,517 residents to moves within the US in 2024-25, 8th among the 50 states and DC. The recent peak was +310,892 in 2021-22.
| Year | Net domestic migration |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | +174,645 |
| 2020-21 | +253,220 |
| 2021-22 | +310,892 |
| 2022-23 | +183,646 |
| 2023-24 | +58,411 |
| 2024-25 | +22,517 |
The Florida cities we cover
| Metro | Median listed home | Monthly payment | 2-bedroom rent | Price level | Housing index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | $385,398 | $2,118 | $1,861 | 100.9 | 125.8 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $379,000 | $2,083 | $1,642 | 99.5 | 109.8 |
| Orlando, FL | $410,000 | $2,253 | $1,855 | 101.4 | 123.4 |
| Sarasota, FL | $457,450 | $2,514 | $1,975 | 102.4 | 128.0 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $379,900 | $2,088 | $1,849 | 102.3 | 125.1 |
| Lakeland, FL | $329,000 | $1,808 | $1,437 | 97.1 | 95.9 |
| Daytona Beach, FL | $374,950 | $2,061 | $1,638 | 99.4 | 108.4 |
| New York metro | $742,000 | $4,078 | $1,997 | 112.6 | 148.6 |
Median listed home: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Monthly payment: principal and interest with 20% down at 7.32% (Freddie Mac, week of October 22, 2026), before taxes and insurance. Rent: median gross rent for a 2-bedroom, utilities includedsource. Price level and housing index: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
Storms, flood zones and insurance
Before you make an offer or sign a lease, look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and get homeowners and flood insurance quotes. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and in coastal Florida the insurance quote can change which home you can afford. Our Florida retirement ranking scores each city on FEMA storm and flood losses.
Rules once you arrive
- Driver's license: within 30 days of becoming a residentsource.
- Vehicle registration: within 10 dayssource.
Update your driver's license, car registration and voter registration, and file a part-year return in both states for the year you move.
The verdict
Florida is a good place to live if you want warm winters and no state income tax, and you budget for storm season and insurance.
Read next: best places to live in Florida, cheapest places to live in Florida, is Jacksonville a good place to live, is Orlando a good place to live, is Tampa a good place to live, or the full cost of living in Florida.