What Does Moving to Florida Really Save You?
No state income tax is the headline, but the honest math nets your tax savings against Florida insurance. Pick your current state and your target Florida county, and see the real annual number.
Your move
The honest comparison
The three lines that decide it
State income tax goes to zero, and for most movers from the Northeast, Midwest, and California it is the biggest line. Property taxes usually fall too: Florida homestead property gets a $50,000 exemption and the Save Our Homes cap holds assessment growth to 3% a year after you file. Insurance pushes the other way, hard in coastal counties, which is why this calculator puts the Citizens county average right in the total instead of hiding it. Movers from Texas and Washington already pay no income tax; for them the math is property tax and insurance, and it is closer.
Common questions
How much do I save on income tax by moving to Florida?
Florida has no state income tax. A household earning 150,000 dollars typically pays roughly 4,500 to 10,000 dollars a year in state income tax in the big feeder states like New York, New Jersey, California, and Illinois; that line item goes to zero in Florida. This calculator estimates it for your income and state.
Are property taxes lower in Florida?
Usually, and often dramatically for movers from New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, or New York, where average effective rates run 1.6 to 2.2%. Florida homestead property comes with a 50,000-dollar exemption and the Save Our Homes 3% assessment cap once you file.
What costs MORE in Florida?
Home insurance. Florida premiums, especially coastal, can be a multiple of what movers paid up north, and flood insurance may be separate. This calculator shows the Citizens average for the county you pick so the comparison is honest, not a sales pitch.
Do I need to establish residency to stop paying my old state's tax?
Yes, and high-tax states audit this. Generally you need to spend more than half the year in Florida, make it your domicile, and cut ties the old state looks for. File your Florida homestead exemption and update your license, registrations, and voter status.
Is there a state estate or inheritance tax in Florida?
No. Florida has no estate tax and no inheritance tax, which is part of why retirees from states that levy them relocate here.
What about the cost of the move itself?
A long-distance interstate move typically runs 4,000 to 12,000 dollars depending on distance and household size. Enter your quote and the calculator shows how many months of annual savings cover it.
Next steps: compare two Florida counties end to end with the county move calculator, see what your Florida property taxes will really be after buying, check rent vs buy in your target county, and browse local experts by county.
Estimates only. State income tax uses an approximate effective rate typical of upper-middle household incomes in each state (top marginal rates, local income taxes where noted, deductions, and credits all vary; verify against your return). Origin property tax uses commonly published average effective rates; Florida property tax is computed from your county’s verified typical millage with the homestead exemption. Insurance is the average Citizens Property Insurance premium by county (April 2026); private quotes and flood coverage differ. Rates are as of 2026 and change. Not tax or financial advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.