State comparison
Florida vs Alaska: which state is better to live in?
Alaska costs a median household about $840 a year less in state and local taxes than Florida, mostly because its combined sales tax is 1.76% against 7.02%, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 126 against 103).
Florida
Low tax burden · COL index 103
Wins 7 categories
Alaska
Low tax burden · COL index 126
Wins 6 categories
Taxes: Florida vs Alaska
Neither Florida nor Alaska has a state income tax, so wages are untouched at the state level in both.
Property tax is 0.77% of home value a year in Florida and 1.04% in Alaska (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $3,196 against $3,536, so Florida has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.02% in Florida and 1.76% in Alaska; Alaska is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $4,766 a year in Florida, $3,930 in Alaska. Alaska is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Florida's cost of living index is 103 and Alaska's is 126, where 100 is the national average; Florida is about 22% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $415K in Florida and $340K in Alaska (Zillow, 2024), a $75K gap in Alaska's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,900 a month in Florida and $1,350 in Alaska.
Home insurance averages $3,500 a year in Florida and $1,400 in Alaska, so Alaska is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 387 incidents per 100,000 residents in Florida and 838 in Alaska (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Florida is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 117% lower. Property crime is 1,882 per 100,000 in Florida against 2,544 in Alaska, again favoring Florida.
Health
Life expectancy is 77.3 years in Florida and 75 in Alaska (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 2.3-year edge for Florida. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Florida's health system 40th of 50 and Alaska's 48th, so Florida scores better on care.
13.2% of Florida residents have no health insurance against 12.1% in Alaska, which favors Alaska. Alaska expanded Medicaid and Florida did not.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida's K-12 schools 19th in the country and Alaska's 35th, 16 places apart in Florida's favor. Florida runs a school-choice voucher program; Alaska does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Florida went to Trump by 13 points and Alaska went to Trump by 13 points.
Florida has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Alaska has permitless carry and a grade of F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in Florida and protected by state law in Alaska, and marijuana is medical only in Florida and legal for adults in Alaska as of 2026. The minimum wage is $13.00 an hour in Florida and $11.73 in Alaska.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is very high in Florida (hurricane, flood, tornado) and moderate in Alaska (earthquake, tsunami, wildfire), so Alaska is the lower-risk state. Annual average air quality index is 28 in Florida and 29 in Alaska (under 50 is good), favoring Florida.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
7
Florida
6
Alaska
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Florida or Alaska better to live in?
Florida wins more of the measures that decide a move. Alaska on taxes ($3,930 a year for a median household against $4,766); Florida on everyday costs (index 103 against 126); Florida on safety (387 violent crimes per 100,000 against 838); Florida on schools (ranked 19th against 35th).
Which is cheaper, Florida or Alaska?
Florida is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 103 against 126. The median home is $415K in Florida and $340K in Alaska (2024). On state and local taxes Alaska saves a median household about $840 a year.
Does Florida or Alaska have lower taxes?
Alaska. A household earning $74,580 pays about $4,766 a year in Florida ($0 income tax, $3,196 property tax on the median home and $1,571 in sales tax) and $3,930 in Alaska ($0 income tax, $3,536 property tax on the median home and $394 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, Florida or Alaska?
Florida, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 387 per 100,000 residents in Florida and 838 in Alaska; property crime is 1,882 against 2,544.
Which has better schools, Florida or Alaska?
Florida. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida 19th of 50 for K-12 and Alaska 35th. Florida also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is Florida or Alaska better for retirees?
Both treat retirement income about the same. Florida does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; Alaska does not tax Social Security, exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $3,196 a year in Florida and $3,536 in Alaska.