Florida vs Texas: A Complete Comparison for Movers
If you’re weighing Florida vs Texas, you’re not alone. These two no-state-income-tax standouts attract movers for similar reasons - strong job markets, warm weather, and plenty to do year-round. But the day-to-day experience can be very different once you look closely at housing costs, insurance, weather risks, and lifestyle.
Below is a practical, mover-focused comparison of Texas vs Florida, including the cost of living in Florida vs Texas, housing considerations, weather realities, and the kind of lifestyle each state supports, so you can choose the best fit for your priorities.
Cost of Living
The big headline in any cost of living comparison is that both states can offer value, but in different ways.
In many parts of Texas, housing costs tend to be a key advantage, especially compared with high-demand coastal Florida markets. At the same time, Florida can sometimes look competitive on taxes at the local level, depending on where you’re comparing, though that can be offset by higher homeownership costs like insurance in hurricane-prone areas.
A quick way to frame living is this: Texas often shines on purchase price and room to grow, while Florida’s affordability can depend more heavily on location, insurance costs, and how close you want to be to the coast.
Housing: Buying in Florida vs Texas
For most movers, housing is the largest budget line and the most important lifestyle decision.
Home Prices and Availability
Both states have markets that range from starter-home friendly to luxury coastal or city-core pricing. The biggest difference is that Texas has a long track record of adding new supply in fast-growing metros, which can help keep options open for buyers who want space, newer infrastructure, and master-planned communities.
For new construction, it’s worth noting that Coventry Homes builds in Texas’ major markets, including Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, with a focus on quality design and energy-efficient features that can support lower ongoing living costs over time.
The Hidden Cost of Owning
This is where the Florida vs Texas debate gets especially interesting.
Texas property taxes are typically higher than Florida’s. Data shows Texas with a higher effective property tax rate than Florida based on owner-occupied housing value.
Florida homeowners’ insurance is a major pressure point, however, due to higher-risk coastal regions. Multiple analyses have highlighted Florida’s outsized premiums compared with the rest of the country, driven largely by storm risk and rebuilding costs.
What that means in real life is that a lower property tax bill in Florida can be offset by much higher insurance and storm-hardening expenses, while in Texas, the monthly cost of ownership often reflects higher taxes even if insurance is typically less extreme than Florida’s highest-risk zones.
Taxes and Paycheck Impact
One reason this debate comes up so often is that neither state levies a state income tax, which can be appealing for households moving from higher-tax states.
That said, your take-home pay can still be influenced by other factors:
• In Texas, higher property taxes can matter more if you plan to buy and stay for the long term.
• In Florida, insurance premiums, flood risk, and HOA fees in some communities can significantly affect monthly housing costs, even without state income tax.
If you’re trying to decide which state “wins” financially, it often comes down to your housing plan, coastal vs inland, and how long you expect to stay.
Weather: Sunshine in Both States, but Very Different Realities
If you love warm weather, you’ll find it in both places. But Florida vs Texas weather is not a simple tie.
Florida Weather
Florida is famous for beaches, humidity, and long summers. It also comes with a hurricane season reality. Florida’s geography makes storm exposure a persistent factor for many residents.
Other Florida weather realities:
• Planning for tropical storms and hurricanes
• Potential flood zones and wind mitigation requirements
• Higher insurance costs and more frequent policy changes in certain areas
• Hot summers that make energy efficiency, insulation, and smart HVAC choices especially valuable for comfort and utility bills.
Texas Weather
Texas weather varies widely by region, but heat is the consistent theme many newcomers notice first. In parts of the state, triple-digit days are a regular part of summer that need to be planned for.
Other Texas weather realities:
• Occasional winter cold snaps depending on the region
• Hot summers that make energy efficiency, insulation, and smart HVAC choices especially valuable for comfort and utility bills
If your ideal day is ocean breeze and coastal living, Florida can feel like home. If you want more variety across big metros, hill country, and wide-open space, Texas has a broader range of climates and landscapes within one state.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle is where your decision becomes personal.
Florida Lifestyle: Coastal Energy and Year-round Outdoors
Florida tends to be a strong fit for people who prioritize:
• Beach access and water activities
• A vacation-like feel in many communities
• A strong retirement culture in certain regions
It’s also a state where location matters enormously. Living inland can feel very different from living near the coast, both in weather exposure and in overall costs.
Texas Lifestyle: Big Metros, Big Opportunity, and Room to Breathe
Texas appeals to movers who want:
• Large, economically diverse metro areas
• A wide range of neighborhoods and community styles
• More space, whether that means a larger yard, an extra bedroom, or a home office setup
Texas’ major markets are also known for growth and development, which can make it easier to find newer communities designed around everyday convenience, commuting routes, and amenities.
If you like the idea of settling into a thoughtfully planned neighborhood near major employment centers, Texas offers many options in fast-growing regions, and Coventry Homes builds in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio for buyers looking for new construction in those markets.
Transportation and Getting Around
Both states are car-centric overall, but the experience differs:
• In many Florida metros, traffic can intensify seasonally with tourism and part-time residents.
• In Texas, commutes can be long simply due to metro size, but highway networks are designed around major suburban growth.
If walkability is a top priority, you’ll likely focus your search on specific neighborhoods in major cities in either state. If you prefer a drive-and-go lifestyle with easy access to shopping and schools, you’ll find plenty of communities built around that pattern in both places.
Which State is Best for You?
When deciding between Florida and Texas, these questions usually make the answer clear:
Choose Florida if you want:
• Coastal living and beach culture
• Warm, humid weather year-round
• A lifestyle centered on water, boating, and outdoor recreation
• You’re comfortable planning for hurricane season and insurance variability
Choose Texas if you want:
• A wide range of fast-growing metro areas and job hubs
• More space and newer community options in many markets
• A lower-risk profile than hurricane-exposed coastal zones
• You’re prepared for higher property taxes compared with Florida
Final Thoughts on Florida vs Texas
The best move is the one that matches your daily life, not just a headline cost comparison. Texas can offer space, opportunity, and strong new-home options, but higher property taxes and summer heat should be part of your plan.
If you’re leaning toward Texas living and want to explore new construction, Coventry Homes offers communities across the state’s major markets, designed with modern living and long-term comfort in mind.
Categories: Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Texas