Head-to-head
Florida vs Tennessee
Tennessee prices sit 11.544 points below Florida's on the 2024 measure (91.870 vs 103.414); neither state taxes wages, so the difference comes down to rents, utilities and how each taxes groceries.
Updated
| Measure | Florida | Tennessee | First − second |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-items price level | 103.414 | 91.870 | +11.544 points |
| Rent price level | 122.107 | 79.070 | +43.037 points |
| Home value | $359,000±$930 | $286,700±$1,492 | +$72,300 |
| Two-bedroom gross rent | $1,664±$7 | $1,143±$10 | +$521 |
| Household income | $74,568±$284 | $69,595±$429 | +$4,973 |
| Real estate taxes paid | $2,730±$10 | $1,442±$8 | +$1,288 |
$4,000 of monthly spending in Florida scales to $3,553 in Tennessee at the 2024 all-items price ratio.
BEA 2024 and ACS 2020–2024; ± marks the Census 90% margin. How to read a gap
Florida vs Tennessee: two no-wage-tax states, very different rents
Housing explains most of the gap. The rent parities sit 43.037 points apart, and a Tennessee two-bedroom costs $521 a month less at the median, $6,252 a year. Florida renters spend 35.2% of income on gross rent; Tennessee renters 29.5%. Utilities are also much cheaper in Tennessee, 72.137 against 90.074.
Owners face the same pattern. Florida's typical home costs $72,300 more and carries a $1,288 larger yearly tax bill. Owners with a mortgage report median monthly costs of $1,959 and $1,566. Insurance, association fees and lender terms are not in these statistics and can change a Florida purchase considerably.
With no wage tax on either side, sales tax is the state tax a household meets most. Florida's general rate is 6% with county surtaxes; Tennessee's is 7% plus a local rate. General sales supplied 62.9% of Florida's fiscal 2025 state collections and 57.5% of Tennessee's. Per resident, Tennessee's state government collected more, $3,496 against $2,709. Groceries are where the two diverge for everyday budgets, as the note below explains.
Price-adjusted income slightly favours Tennessee: real per capita personal income is $58,582 there and $57,131 in Florida, even though Florida's median household income is $4,973 higher.
Separate the move itself from the recurring budget: a deposit or down payment changes first-year cash, while the lease, commute and utilities set the monthly plan.
Price levels by category
| Measure | Florida | Tennessee | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.414 | 91.870 | +11.544 |
| Goods | 98.059 | 96.247 | +1.812 |
| Housing (rents) | 122.107 | 79.070 | +43.037 |
| Utilities | 90.074 | 72.137 | +17.937 |
| Other services | 101.324 | 95.142 | +6.182 |
| Real income per person (2017 $) | $57,131 | $58,582 | −$1,451 |
Two state tax mixes, FY2025
Florida: $63.55 billion, $2,709 per resident. Tennessee: $25.57 billion, $3,496 per resident.
| Tax | FL share | TN share | FL per resident | TN per resident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual income | not levied | 0.0% | — | $0 |
| General sales | 62.9% | 57.5% | $1,705 | $2,010 |
| Property | not levied | not levied | — | — |
| Motor fuel | 6.2% | 5.0% | $169 | $176 |
| Other selective sales | 11.1% | 16.8% | $301 | $589 |
| Corporate income | 9.2% | 10.1% | $248 | $354 |
| Licenses | 3.9% | 8.9% | $107 | $311 |
| Severance | 0.0% | 0.0% | $1 | $0 |
| Other taxes | 6.6% | 1.6% | $179 | $57 |
Taxes on wages and purchases
| Tax | Florida | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | no personal income tax | no tax on wages |
| State sales tax | 6% general state rate | 7% state rate plus a local rate |
Groceries and everyday purchases in Florida and Tennessee
Neither state taxes wages, so sales tax is the main state tax a household meets day to day. Florida exempts general groceries: section 212.08(1) of the 2026 Florida Statutes exempts food products for human consumption, such as meat, produce, dairy, baked goods and frozen dinners, though hot prepared food and soft drinks remain taxable. Tennessee taxes food at a reduced 4% state rate instead of its 7% general rate, and every local jurisdiction adds its own rate of up to 2.75%.
For a household spending $600 a month on qualifying groceries, that is $0 of state sales tax in Florida and $24 of state tax in Tennessee before the local rate, or $288 a year at the state rate alone.
Sources, read : Florida Statutes section 212.08 (2026); Tennessee Department of Revenue: sales tax due dates and tax rates.
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