Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,235 in Florida versus $978 in New Jersey. Overall, New Jersey runs roughly 21% cheaper on rent than Florida, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $69,142 in Florida and $48,416 in New Jersey — about 30% higher in Florida. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6%
6.625%
+0.6 pp in New Jersey
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in New Jersey
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,235
$978
+21% in Florida
Median Home Value
$320,700
$337,800
+5% in New Jersey
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$69,142
$48,416
+30% in Florida
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
71.8°F
54.9°F
+16.9°F in Florida
Florida vs New Jersey — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Florida or New Jersey?
- New Jersey is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $978 runs about 21% 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 New Jersey?
- 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 $39,000 in New Jersey.
- Which has lower taxes, Florida or New Jersey?
- Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/1 cities we track in Florida/New Jersey — 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.