Texas vs Florida Tax Comparison
Both states have $0 income tax. The real difference is property tax, sales tax, and insurance. Enter your numbers.
How to Use This Comparison Tool
Side-by-Side Tax Bill tab
Enter your home value and annual taxable spending. The calculator compares Texas vs Florida property tax and sales tax. Both states charge zero income tax, so the comparison focuses on the two taxes that actually differ: property tax (TX 1.60% vs FL 0.80%) and sales tax (TX 8.25% vs FL 6.98%).
Property Tax Deep Dive tab
See how homestead exemptions change the picture. Texas offers a $140,000 school-district exemption that reduces the taxable value for the school portion of your bill. Florida offers a $50,000 homestead exemption on the full assessed value, plus the Save Our Homes 3% cap that limits annual assessment increases regardless of market appreciation.
Total Cost with Insurance tab
Adds homeowners insurance to the comparison. Texas averages ~$4,000/year (hail, tornado risk). Florida averages ~$4,500/year (hurricane risk, volatile insurance market). This gives you the full annual housing cost picture beyond just taxes.
Share your result
Every input is encoded in the URL. Click Share, send the link to your partner or advisor -- they will open it and see your exact scenario. No re-entering, no screenshots.
The Formula
Property tax
Texas effective rate: 1.60%. Florida effective rate: 0.80%. Texas homestead exemption ($140K) applies only to the school-district portion (~45% of the total bill). Florida homestead exemption ($50K) applies to the full assessed value.
Sales tax
Texas combined: 8.25% (6.25% state + 2% local max). Florida combined: 6.98% (6% state + ~1% local average). Both states exempt groceries from sales tax.
Total annual housing cost
This gives the full picture. Neither state charges income tax, so these three line items capture the key financial difference between living in Texas vs Florida.
Example
Maria -- $350,000 home, $25,000 annual taxable spending
Maria is a remote worker choosing between Austin, TX and Tampa, FL. She earns $120,000 and pays zero state income tax in either state.
Side-by-Side Tax Bill
With Insurance
Maria chose Tampa. The $2,618 annual savings after insurance helped offset Florida's slightly higher home insurance cost. Over 10 years, she saves roughly $26,000 in taxes and insurance compared to Austin.
Texas vs Florida Tax Rates at a Glance (2026)
| Category | Texas | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.60% | 0.80% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.25% | 6.98% |
| Homestead exemption | $140K (school only) | $50K (full value) |
| Assessment cap | 10%/yr (non-homestead) | 3%/yr (Save Our Homes) |
| Avg. homeowners insurance | ~$4,000/yr | ~$4,500/yr |
| Groceries taxed? | No | No |
Rates are 2026 averages. Actual rates vary by county. Sources: Texas Comptroller, Florida Department of Revenue, NAIC, Tax Foundation.