Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from California to Florida
California and Florida have surprisingly similar property tax rates — California averages 0.71% and Florida 0.86% effective rate. On a $500,000 home the difference is modest: roughly $3,550/year in California versus $4,300 in Florida. However, Florida has no state income tax while California's top rate reaches 13.3%. For retirees and high earners, the income tax difference dwarfs the property tax difference. Florida's homestead exemption ($50,000) and Save Our Homes cap (3% annual limit for primary residences) further protect long-term homeowners.
Avg Effective Rate
Base 1% (Prop 13) plus local bonds/Mello-Roos; long-term owners pay far less
Avg Effective Rate
No income tax; property tax funds most local services
At $500,000 home income:
California saves on property tax
| Income | CA Tax | FL Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 home | $2,130 | $2,580 | $450 | $4,500 |
| $400,000 home | $2,840 | $3,440 | $600 | $6,000 |
| $500,000 home | $3,550 | $4,300 | $750 | $7,500 |
| $750,000 home | $5,325 | $6,450 | $1,125 | $11,250 |
| $1,000,000 home | $7,100 | $8,600 | $1,500 | $15,000 |
| $1,500,000 home | $10,650 | $12,900 | $2,250 | $22,500 |
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
★ 4.8 verified reviews · 3,758 reviews
Moving from California to Florida? Partial-year residency returns, establishing FL domicile to escape CA tax, and timing your move to minimise CA's reach all require expert guidance. Get matched with a CPA who specialises in state moves. Virtual meetings, fixed pricing.
⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.
Get Matched With a CPA →Florida has a slightly higher average effective property tax rate than California: approximately 0.86% vs 0.71%. On a $500,000 home, that's roughly $4,300/year in Florida versus $3,550 in California — a difference of about $750/year. However, California's Proposition 13 means long-term owners often pay well below the 0.71% average, while new buyers pay the full assessed value. In Florida, the Save Our Homes cap (3%/year for homesteaded properties) similarly protects long-term residents.
Florida's homestead exemption removes $50,000 from the assessed value of a primary residence for property tax purposes: the first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities; the second $25,000 applies only to non-school taxing districts. On a $500,000 home, the exemption reduces the taxable value to $475,000 (or $462,500 for non-school millage), saving approximately $500–$800/year depending on local rates.
It depends heavily on where and at what price. In comparable metropolitan areas: a $600,000 Florida home costs roughly $800–1,000 more per year in property tax than the same home in California. But a California resident earning $150,000 pays approximately $11,000–13,000 in state income tax; a Florida resident pays $0. Florida is typically far cheaper in total tax burden for most professional and retirement households, even accounting for the slightly higher property tax rate.
Yes — Florida offers several additional property tax benefits for seniors and long-term residents: (1) Additional homestead exemption for low-income seniors aged 65+: up to $50,000 additional exemption if income is below a threshold (approximately $35,000). (2) Senior long-term residency exemption: some counties offer this for residents 65+ who have lived in the county for 25+ years and meet income tests. (3) Florida's Save Our Homes cap protects long-term homestead owners from large reassessment jumps. These make Florida significantly more attractive for retirees than the headline rate suggests.