Florida vs Texas – price comparison

Florida and Texas are arguably two of the most popular states in the country among movers. Moving trends are different each year, but these two states are constantly among the top ones. That fact alone is probably enough to say that moving to both the Sunshine State and the Lone Star State is a great decision that will likely pay off. The cost of living is usually the deciding factor when choosing where to relocate, and Florida vs Texas is surely a tough dilemma. In this article, Best Cross Country Movers will compare the cost of living between these states in order to determine which one of them is more affordable. So, whether you’re considering moving from one of these states to another, or want to move from a third state to either Florida or Texas, you’re in the right place. Without further ado, let’s jump into it.

The cost of living in the Sunshine State

In order to give you as much information as we can, we will analyze the states separately. In the end, we’ll see which state wins this cost of living comparison, and hopefully, your decision will be easier to make. So, we’ll start off with Florida. The cost of living in Florida is 2% higher than the United States average. That being said, it will largely depend on which city you choose. Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida, is actually the most affordable out of all big cities. Tallahassee is not far behind when it comes to affordability, so if you want to move there, we can connect you with some of the best cross country movers in Tallahassee. On the other hand, it won’t surprise you to hear that Miami is the most expensive one.

A pier in Naples FL after sunset.
The Sunshine State is much cheaper than most people think.

But, all things considered, seeing that the Sunshine State is right around the nation’s average is definitely good news. Especially when we take into account how much it offers. Keep in mind that the cost of living as a whole isn’t enough to get an idea of how affordable one state really is. We need to take a look at all expenses involved in the cost of living, most importantly housing. That is exactly what we’re going to do in the next few sections. However, if you end up choosing the Sunshine State, know that moving there won’t be a problem because there are a lot of reputable cross country movers in Florida who can help you out.

Real estate prices in Florida

Although the real estate prices in Sunshine State are rising constantly, they are still well within reach. The median home price in Florida is $383,000 which is right around the USA average. But, once again, we need to mention that the prices are sky-rocketing, and the yearly increase is always between 5 and 15 percent. Jacksonville, is once again, the least expensive out of all the big cities. Average home costs barely surpass the $300,000 mark. In terms of housing, Tampa is another affordable city, where you can move with the help of interstate moving companies Tampa. The median home price in this city is slightly lower than the Florida average. Miami is on another level though, with the average home being priced at $540,000.

A house in Cape Coral at the waterfront.
Housing is often the deciding factor for Florida vs Texas, so you’ll be glad to hear that some cities in the Sunshine State have very affordable real estate prices.

Maybe the most positive surprise here is the fact that homes in Orlando are 2% cheaper than the Florida average. And, Orlando is an exceptional place to live. So, if you want to move there, it would be best to not go through it alone. Instead, you could give a call to some of the best cross country movers in Orlando and enjoy a safe Sunshine State relocation. Before we finish talking about real estate prices in Florida, we want to show you the average rental prices as well, because a lot of people are looking for a place to rent. Who knows, maybe this will help you solve your Florida vs Texas dilemma.

  1. Studio apartment – $1,700
  2. 1-bedroom apartment – $1,800
  3. 2-bedroom apartment – $2,000
  4. 3-bedroom apartment – $2,450
  5. 4-bedroom apartment – $2,900

Daily expenses

In terms of other expenses, mainly those you’ll experience on a daily basis, there is nothing that stands out from the cost of living overall. Health-related expenses in Florida are slightly lower than the nation’s average, while utilities, transportation, and groceries are slightly higher. Out of all the big cities, Jacksonville is simply the easiest one to afford. So, if the cost of living is your biggest deciding factor when choosing where to move, you won’t regret moving to Jacksonville. After all, it is the most populous city in the Sunshine State. And, it’s easy to reach and relocate to, especially with cross country movers in Jacksonville by your side.

The City of Jacksonville photographed from air during a sunny day.
Jacksonville is one of the most affordable cities in the Sunshine State.

Is Texas expensive?

Before we jump into prices, we must say that Texas is one of the best states to live in. Over the last few years, especially after the COVID-19 outbreak, the Lone Star State has been on the radar of almost every American mover. The final decision on your destination will depend on various factors, but Texas has to be considered. That being said, one of the biggest reasons people are moving there is, in fact, the low cost of living. Some of the best cross country movers in Texas have been quite busy lately due to a heavy amount of interest in moving there from people all over the USA. The Lone Star State is, considering its size and population, very affordable. And yes, it is cheaper than Florida.

A woman playing a guitar outdoors in Texas.
Texas is even more affordable than Florida, which might affect your decision on Florida vs Texas.

The cost of living in Texas is 7% lower than the nation’s average, and therefore, lower than in Florida, although not by much. To make things even better, most of the cities in the state are similar in terms of expenses. Austin, which is becoming a leading tech hub, is the most expensive one, mostly because of high housing prices. Dallas also catches an eye, since the cost of living in this great city is higher than the Texas average, but still, it’s only 1% higher than the USA average. And, considering how much Dallas offers, giving a call to interstate moving companies Dallas in order to move there, will certainly be a good decision. Other cities, like Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, are quite affordable as well, and their costs of living are somewhere around, or a little higher, than the average in the Lone Star State.

Housing costs in the Lone Star State

Cheap real estate, at least compared to the whole country, is one of the best benefits of moving to Texas. Truth be told, housing prices in Texas have never been higher than they are now. But, even in this situation, it’s more affordable than in the majority of the United States. The median home price in the Lone Star State is $354,000 which is lower than both USA and Florida’s average. For some people, this will surely help in solving the Florida vs Texas dilemma. The most expensive real estate in the State of Texas is in Austin where the median home costs well above $600,000, which is exceptionally high by the Lone Star State standard.

A woman, trying to decide on Florida vs Texas, comparing the cost of living prices between the states at her desk.
It’s important to get familiar with housing prices in several cities, before deciding which one of them you’re moving to.

Otherwise, there are no huge differences. Out of the other big cities, Dallas is the most expensive one, where the average home is priced at $430,000. Considering the fact that Houston is the largest city in the state, real estate prices there are really affordable (the median home is priced at $330,000). Houses in San Antonio are reasonably priced as well, and Fort Worth is probably the most affordable big city in Texas in terms of housing. So, if cheap real estate is your main motivation when choosing where to live, Fort Worth is the place for you, and reputable cross country movers in Fort Worth will relocate you there in no time. When it comes to rents in Texas, these are the average prices based on the size of the unit:

  1. Studio apartment – $1,300
  2. 1-bedroom apartment – $1,400
  3. 2-bedroom apartment – $1,600
  4. 3-bedroom apartment – $1,900
  5. 4-bedroom apartment – $2,250

Other expenses you’ll face on a daily basis in Texas

With the exception of transportation, which is slightly higher in Texas than the USA average, every single expense that goes into the cost of living is lower in the Lone Star State. This involves utilities, groceries, and health-related expenses, along with the housing which we covered earlier. So, all things considered, Texas is a very affordable state. Still, the level of affordability will depend on the city you choose. Dallas and Austin might be a little pricey compared to the rest, they’re still within reach. But, if you want a really affordable city, San Antonio is a great solution. Fort Worth and Houston are also cheap and great to move in, but San Antonio is surely worth considering. If you end up choosing this city, know that there will be a lot of experienced cross country movers in San Antonio who will transfer you safely in a timely fashion.

Houston vs Miami

Now, we’re going to compare two of the most popular cities among American movers from Florida and Texas respectively. To be fair, Houston and Dallas are really close when it comes to inbound migration. But, since Houston is the largest and most populous city in Texas we decided to put an emphasis on it. The cost of living in Houston is 53% lower than in Miami. That alone is a huge difference, and most of it comes from real estate prices. We saw that real estate is very affordable in Space City. On the other hand, Miami’s whole real estate market is sky-rocketing. So, if you are choosing between these two cities, and want to go with the one that’s less expensive, you’re probably going to relocate to Houston. And, relocation won’t be a problem because you can rely on interstate moving companies Houston to help you out.

The Houston Skyline photographed from a nearby park.
Between Miami and Houston, Space City is more affordable by far.

On the other hand, Miami is one of the best cities in the United States without a doubt. Living there will cost you more, but it will be worth it. The Magic City offers you a chance of having a unique lifestyle and you’d be surrounded by warm weather and beautiful beaches all year long. With the assistance of the best cross country movers in Miami, you can be there in the blink of an eye, and start enjoying your Magic City life right away.

Florida vs Texas: tax systems comparison

Both of these states can be considered tax-friendly. First of all, neither Texas nor Florida are imposing a personal income tax, which is the most important thing, and great news for anyone moving there. In the Lone Star State, there is also no corporate income tax, while the State of Florida has one (5.50%). When it comes to sales taxes, they are similar in both states, and Florida narrowly edges this with states sales tax being 6% compared to 6.25% in Texas (local sales tax is at the maximum of 2% in both states). So, Texas comes at the top here, but not by much. Also, it’s worth noting that the average salary in both Florida and Texas is around $70,000 a year.

Conclusion

We know that deciding on Florida vs Texas is a really difficult thing to do. No wonder why, since both of them are really great to live in. Outside of Miami, Florida is actually really affordable, and Texas is even cheaper. All things considered, Texas wins the price comparison, but keep in mind that the most expensive cities in these states will pay you a higher salary to cover these expenses. Whichever state out of these two you end up choosing, you most certainly will not regret it. We hope this article has been helpful, and we wish you the best of luck during the relocation process!

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