Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,235 in Florida versus $1,166 in Utah. Overall, Utah runs roughly 6% cheaper on rent than Florida, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $69,142 in Florida and $74,925 in Utah — about 8% higher in Utah. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in Utah
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.50%
+4.5 pp in Utah
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,235
$1,166
+6% in Florida
Median Home Value
$320,700
$495,700
+55% in Utah
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$69,142
$74,925
+8% in Utah
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
71.8°F
52.8°F
+19.0°F in Florida
Florida vs Utah — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Utah?
- Utah is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,166 runs about 6% 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 Utah?
- 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 $47,000 in Utah.
- Which has lower taxes, Florida or Utah?
- Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/1 cities we track in Florida/Utah — 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.