Deciding where to live is never an easy task. And when you have to decide between two similar places, it’s even harder. Both California and Florida are beautiful states. And in both, you will enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. So, in order to make a decision you won’t regret, you should focus on the differences. For example, if you live in Florida, you won’t have to pay income tax. Also, real estate prices are lower. On the other hand, California has a rich labor market. And it will be much easier to find a well-paid job there. So ask yourself – Is it cheaper to live in Florida than California? When you are sure where you want to move, call 24/7 Logistic Services.
The easiest way to find out which state is cheaper is to compare the costs. So, let us check some of the ordinary expenses in both states. That can show us which one is more affordable. However, keep in mind that we are talking here about the average costs. So, the costs in various parts of each country will certainly differ.
Checking the following costs will give us the best base for comparison:
Whether you live in California or Florida, your monthly rent or mortgage payment will be your biggest expense. Basically, to maintain normal living conditions, you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly income on housing costs. When it comes to housing prices, we usually get a variety of information. So instead of relying on data from various sites, we decided to take data from the US Census.
In Florida, the median value of an owner-occupied house is $215,300. In California, the median value of the same size house is $505,000. So, it translates into a median monthly ownership cost of $2,357 in California. And, in Florida, you will have to pay $1,503.
Rental prices in California are rather high. As per reports, the median rent in California is $1,503. Renting in Florida, you will be charged a median rent of $1,175 per month. This may be the reason that you decide to move to Florida. In that case, seek the assistance of the movers from California to Florida. They will make your relocation fast and easy.
Groceries and food are also basic living expenses. No matter what your favorite dish is, everyone has to eat. So let’s see if it’s cheaper to buy groceries in California or Florida. So when it comes to groceries, you might be surprised to find that your grocery bill is almost the same in both states. Namely, in Florida, you will pay $364.25 per month for groceries. In California, for the same groceries you will pay $370.96.
Paying taxes is not very popular, regardless of where you live. However, tax evasion is punishable by law. Therefore, it is better to pay taxes on time. Otherwise, you will pay a fine in addition to the tax.
Many of you have already heard that there is no income tax in Florida. And this is regardless of your monthly/annual income. This is also a reason for some people for moving from Sacramento to Miami. On the other hand, the income tax in California is quite high. And, it depends on the annual income. So if your income is low, you will pay 1% of your annual earnings. And, if you earn more than a million dollars a year, you will be assessed an income tax of 13.3%. However, to get a clearer picture, we will discuss some other taxes too.
Florida property law is surprisingly higher than the one in California. For example, the median property tax in Florida is $830 per $100,000 of value. In California, you will be charged only $729 per $100,000 of value. However, living in Florida, you can leave a fortune to your heirs. And, they will not need to pay a penny as there is no estate tax in Florida.
Gas prices are already high. But, regardless of that, both states still charge the gas tax. In Florida, you will pay a state tax of 43.55 cents per gallon of gasoline. And 36.37 cents per gallon of diesel. In California, the gas taxes are the highest in the US. So, you will be charged 68.15 cents per gallon of gasoline. And 99.91 cents per gallon of diesel. In case the higher taxes in California are the reason for your moving from Los Angeles to Miami, don’t miss to hire reliable movers.
Living in Florida, you will be paying an average sales tax of 7%. The base sales tax in Florida is actually 6% on most commodities. However, every city or county can add its own sales taxes to the base tax. But, this additional amount can’t exceed 2%.
In California, you will be paying an average sales tax rate of about 8.82%. Namely, the base sales tax in California is 7.25%. And, like in Florida, cities and counties can add up no more than 2.5% on this base tax.
In both states, the drivers are spending on average 28 minutes in traffic. In case you are stuck in a traffic jam, your commuting time can easily reach 45 minutes. So, the problem is not only that you will lose your precious time. But, this will also increase gas consumption. Add to this the highway tolls, and often traffic accidents, we can see that commuting is not cheap at all. Due to often accidents, Florida state has increased car insurance. And, this also adds up to the commuting costs.
Talking about utilities, it’s good that you check the prices of electricity, water, and gas, and compare them. Utility prices in different states can be very different. All those commodities are more expensive in California. Both states have excellent healthcare systems. However, seeing your doctor, dentist, or eye doctor will cost less in Florida than in California.
Finding the answer to our question – Is it cheaper to live in Florida than California, we have discussed various costs. And, we could see that living in Florida is cheaper. However, where you really want to live will depend on numerous other factors. You might get an excellent job offer in California. Or you simply better love the climate in there. The bottom line, your choice will depend on individual preferences. Regardless of which country you choose to live in, be sure that you will live in a beautiful state.
References:
https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/cost-of-living/florida-usa/california-usa
@ Copyright 2024 | 24/7 Logistic Services LLC | All Rights Reserved
