Compare Florida and Texas

When you're deciding where to buy a home, invest in real estate, or relocate, Florida, a state known for no income tax, coastal living, and high property insurance costs often gets compared to Texas, a state with no state income tax, lower home prices, and booming urban markets like Austin and Dallas. Both states attract retirees, remote workers, and investors—but they don’t work the same way. Florida’s property taxes are higher than Texas’s on average, but Texas has no homestead exemption cap, meaning your tax bill can spike if your home value rises fast. Meanwhile, Florida’s coastal areas face rising insurance premiums due to hurricane risk, while Texas deals more with hail damage and water shortages.

Home prices in Florida have climbed sharply in cities like Miami and Orlando, pushing many buyers toward smaller towns or inland areas. In Texas, you’ll still find more affordable 3-bedroom homes in places like San Antonio or Fort Worth, even as Austin and Dallas continue to grow. Renters in Austin are seeing prices climb toward New York levels, while in Florida, Tampa and Jacksonville still offer decent rental yields for investors. If you’re looking at rental income, Texas has fewer rent control rules, giving landlords more flexibility. Florida, on the other hand, has stricter tenant laws in some counties and higher turnover in tourist-heavy areas.

Both states have no state income tax, but that’s where the similarity ends. Florida’s sales tax is 6%, and local surcharges can push it over 7.5%. Texas has a 6.25% state sales tax, with local rates adding up to 2% more. Property tax rates in Texas are higher on paper—around 1.8% on average—but because home values are generally lower, your actual bill might be less than in Florida, where median home values are higher and insurance adds another $3,000–$5,000 a year. If you’re comparing long-term ownership costs, Texas often wins on total out-of-pocket spending.

For families, Texas schools get more funding per student, and many suburbs have better-rated public schools than Florida’s. Florida’s education system is more centralized, with more charter schools and voucher programs. If you’re planning to retire, Florida’s healthcare access is stronger near the coast, while Texas has more large hospital networks in its metro areas. Both states are popular with snowbirds, but Texas offers more year-round outdoor activities without the humidity.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real, up-to-date comparisons: how much rent costs in Austin versus Miami, whether you can legally rent out a property short-term in each state, how property taxes are calculated, and what hidden costs come with owning a home in either place. You’ll also see how the 6666 Ranch in Texas compares to Florida’s large private landholdings, and how the cost of living in these states stacks up against each other in 2025. No fluff. Just what matters when you’re choosing between two of America’s biggest real estate markets.