Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,235 in Florida versus $849 in Wisconsin. Overall, Wisconsin runs roughly 31% cheaper on rent than Florida, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $69,142 in Florida and $51,888 in Wisconsin — about 25% higher in Florida. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in Florida
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.65%
+7.7 pp in Wisconsin
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,235
$849
+31% in Florida
Median Home Value
$320,700
$172,000
+46% in Florida
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$69,142
$51,888
+25% in Florida
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
71.8°F
47.9°F
+23.9°F in Florida
Florida vs Wisconsin — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $849 runs about 31% 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 Wisconsin?
- 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 $34,000 in Wisconsin.
- Which has lower taxes, Florida or Wisconsin?
- Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/1 cities we track in Florida/Wisconsin — 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.