Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,235 in Florida versus $1,258 in Illinois. Overall, Florida runs roughly 2% cheaper on rent than Illinois, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $69,142 in Florida and $75,134 in Illinois — about 8% higher in Illinois. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in Illinois
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.95%
+5.0 pp in Illinois
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,235
$1,258
+2% in Illinois
Median Home Value
$320,700
$315,200
+2% in Florida
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$69,142
$75,134
+9% in Illinois
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
71.8°F
52.7°F
+19.1°F in Florida
Florida vs Illinois — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Illinois?
- Florida is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,235 runs about 2% below Illinois's $1,258, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Florida than in Illinois?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Florida versus $50,000 in Illinois.
- Which has lower taxes, Florida or Illinois?
- Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/1 cities we track in Florida/Illinois — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.