The battle of the coasts: West vs Southeast
Highest in the Nation
9 progressive brackets
Perfect weather
Tech hub
No State Income Tax
Constitutional prohibition
Beaches everywhere
Growing economy
At $100,000 income:
That's $480/month back in your pocket!
Income: $0
State Tax: $0
Take Home: $0
Income: $0
State Tax: $0
Take Home: $0
| Income | CA State Tax | FL State Tax | Annual Savings | 30-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,711 | $0 | $1,711 | $51,330 |
| $75,000 | $3,349 | $0 | $3,349 | $100,470 |
| $100,000 | $5,762 | $0 | $5,762 | $172,860 |
| $150,000 | $10,991 | $0 | $10,991 | $329,730 |
| $250,000 | $22,471 | $0 | $22,471 | $674,130 |
California: Perfect year-round (60-75°F most days). Mediterranean climate.
Florida: Hot & humid summers (90°F+). Mild winters. Hurricane season June-Nov.
Winner: California (if you value comfort), Florida (if you love heat & beaches)
California median home: $800,000 (SF Bay Area $1.5M+)
Florida median home: $400,000 (Miami $600k, Orlando $350k)
Winner: Florida (50% cheaper)
California: Tech (Silicon Valley), Entertainment (Hollywood), Best startup ecosystem
Florida: Tourism, Healthcare, Finance, Growing tech (Miami Tech Week)
Winner: California (more opportunities), Florida (growing fast)
California: Mountains + beaches, wine country, world-class food, liberal culture
Florida: 1,350 miles of beaches, theme parks, boating, more conservative
Winner: Tie (completely different vibes)
2020-2023: Over 250,000 Californians moved to Florida
Why they're moving:
Much smaller, but happens for:
Best for: Urban lifestyle, culture, nightlife
Vibe: Most CA-like (diverse, international, energetic)
Cost: $600k median home (still 40% less than SF/LA)
Best for: Families, balanced lifestyle
Vibe: Growing city, good jobs, affordable
Cost: $400k median home
Best for: Beach lovers, less hectic than Miami
Vibe: Relaxed, boating culture, good weather
Cost: $550k median home
Best for: Families, most affordable
Vibe: Theme parks, tourism, suburban
Cost: $350k median home (best value)
At $100k income, you save ~$20k-30k/year total (taxes + housing + cost of living). Over 30 years, that's $600k-900k saved.
Perfect weather, mountains + beaches, world-class everything. If money isn't tight, CA offers unmatched quality of life.
Florida lets you save a fortune and live comfortably. California offers a lifestyle you can't get anywhere else but costs a fortune.
Choose based on: Are you optimizing for wealth building or quality of life? Neither answer is wrong.
A: Yes! You'll pay $0 FL state tax. CA can't tax you if you're a true FL resident working from FL.
A: Similar - CA: 7.25%-10.25%, FL: 6%-7.5%. Slightly lower in FL but not a big differentiator.
A: YES. CA has perfect 60-75°F year-round. FL summers are 90°F+ with 80% humidity. Many CA transplants struggle with FL heat.
A: Real risk June-November. Insurance is expensive. Most Floridians evacuate during major storms. CA has wildfires; FL has hurricanes.
A: Probably. Most CA → FL movers say they miss the weather, mountains, food scene, and "vibe." But they don't miss the cost.