Florida
FL • South
Quality of Life Score
58.51
State Comparison
Florida vs Georgia
Georgia is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Georgia, Georgia has higher incomes, Florida has lower state income tax, and Georgia gets more sunshine.
Florida
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Georgia
17
/ 31
metrics won
GA wins Housing
GA wins Quality of Life
FL wins Climate
GA wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Florida
winner
vs
Georgia
Florida scores higher on quality of life — 6.92 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Georgia is 7.1 points cheaper overall
Georgia has the lower cost-of-living index. Georgia is at 93.4, while Florida is at 100.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $4.56 further in Georgia
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $111.01 of local buying power in Georgia, versus $106.45 in Florida.
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Income
Georgia income is 5.1% higher
Georgia has the higher median household income at $71,355, compared with $67,917 in Florida.
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Jobs
Florida minimum wage is $6.75 higher
Florida has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Georgia.
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Housing
Florida homes cost about 1.3x more
Georgia has the lower median home value at $277,000, versus $348,000 in Florida.
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Taxes
Florida has lower state income tax
Florida has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 5.49% in Georgia.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Florida
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Georgia
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.5%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (100.7 for Florida, 93.4 for Georgia). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Florida
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Florida
- Florida has lower property tax rates on average.
- Florida has a lower violent crime rate.
- Florida job growth trend is stronger.
- Florida health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Florida health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Florida has a higher overall cost of living.
- Florida has a higher housing cost index.
- Florida has higher median home values.
- Florida shows lower median income.
- Florida education proxy is lower.
- Florida has fewer sunny days.
Georgia
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Georgia
- Georgia has a lower overall cost of living.
- Georgia has a lower housing cost index.
- Georgia has lower median home values.
- Georgia shows higher median income.
- Georgia education proxy is higher.
- Georgia has more sunny days.
Cons
- Georgia has higher property tax rates on average.
- Georgia has a higher violent crime rate.
- Georgia job growth trend is weaker.
- Georgia health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Georgia health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
FL
|
GA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Tallahassee | Atlanta |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Swing State |
|
Population
|
21,538,187
|
10,711,908
|
|
Median Income
|
$67,917
|
$71,355
|
|
Cost of Living
|
100.5
|
93.4
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$348,000
|
$277,000
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.76%
|
0.77%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
5.49%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$14.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.198/gal
|
$3.716/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
15.92 c/kWh
|
14.46 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
58.51
|
51.59
|
|
Average Temperature
|
70.7°F
|
63.5°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
101 days
|
112 days
|
|
Land Area
|
65,758 sq mi
|
59,425 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
327.5 per sq mi
|
180.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
March 3, 1845 (#27)
|
January 2, 1788 (#4)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
17
shown
Saving Money
Georgia is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 93.4 vs 100.5 in Florida. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Georgia is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.716/gal in Georgia vs $4.198/gal in Florida. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Florida has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.00/hr in Florida vs $7.25/hr in Georgia. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Georgia has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.46 c/kWh in Georgia vs 15.92 c/kWh in Florida. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Georgia is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.88x in Georgia vs 5.12x in Florida. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Georgia is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.4% in Georgia vs 25.5% in Florida. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Florida vs Georgia - Common Questions
Q Is Florida cheaper to live in than Georgia?
Georgia has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Georgia scores 93.4 versus 100.5 for Florida - a gap of 7.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Florida or Georgia?
$100 goes further in Georgia. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $111.01 in Georgia, compared with $106.45 in Florida.
Q Which state is bigger - Florida or Georgia?
Florida is larger, covering 65,758 sq mi compared with 59,425 sq mi for Georgia - roughly 1.1x the size.
Q Does Florida or Georgia have more people?
Florida has the larger population at 21,538,187, compared with 10,711,908 in Georgia.
Q Which state has higher household income - Florida or Georgia?
Georgia has the higher median household income at $71,355, versus $67,917 in Florida.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Florida or Georgia?
Florida has no state income tax, while Georgia charges up to 5.49%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Florida or Georgia?
Homes are cheaper in Georgia, where the median home value is $277,000, versus $348,000 in Florida.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Florida or Georgia?
Florida is more densely populated at 327.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Georgia is more spread out at 180.3 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.