Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,235 in Florida versus $953 in Montana. Overall, Montana runs roughly 23% cheaper on rent than Florida, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $69,142 in Florida and $71,855 in Montana — about 4% higher in Montana. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6%
None
+6.0 pp in Florida
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.65%
+5.7 pp in Montana
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,235
$953
+23% in Florida
Median Home Value
$320,700
$427,400
+33% in Montana
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$69,142
$71,855
+4% in Montana
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
71.8°F
45.9°F
+25.9°F in Florida
Florida vs Montana — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Montana?
- Montana is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $953 runs about 23% below Florida's $1,235, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Florida than in Montana?
- 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 $38,000 in Montana.
- Which has lower taxes, Florida or Montana?
- Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/3 cities we track in Florida/Montana — 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.