State comparison
Florida vs Wyoming: which state is better to live in?
Wyoming costs a median household about $1,600 a year less in state and local taxes than Florida, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $1,925 a year against $3,196 in Florida.
Florida
Low tax burden · COL index 103
Wins 2 categories
Wyoming
Low tax burden · COL index 101
Wins 11 categories
Taxes: Florida vs Wyoming
Neither Florida nor Wyoming 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 0.55% in Wyoming (Tax Foundation, 2023); on each state's median home that is $3,196 against $1,925, so Wyoming has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.02% in Florida and 5.34% in Wyoming; Wyoming 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, $3,120 in Wyoming. Wyoming is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Florida's cost of living index is 103 and Wyoming's is 101, where 100 is the national average; Wyoming is about 2% cheaper day to day.
The median home costs $415K in Florida and $350K in Wyoming (Zillow, 2024), a $65K gap in Wyoming's favor. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,900 a month in Florida and $1,300 in Wyoming.
Home insurance averages $3,500 a year in Florida and $1,500 in Wyoming, so Wyoming is cheaper to insure.
Safety
Violent crime runs 387 incidents per 100,000 residents in Florida and 221 in Wyoming (FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2023); Wyoming is the safer state by that measure, with a rate 75% lower. Property crime is 1,882 per 100,000 in Florida against 1,812 in Wyoming, again favoring Wyoming.
Health
Life expectancy is 77.3 years in Florida and 76 in Wyoming (County Health Rankings, 2024), a 1.3-year edge for Florida. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Florida's health system 40th of 50 and Wyoming's 33rd, so Wyoming scores better on care.
13.2% of Florida residents have no health insurance against 12.3% in Wyoming, which favors Wyoming. Neither state has expanded Medicaid.
Schools
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida's K-12 schools 19th in the country and Wyoming's 39th, 20 places apart in Florida's favor. Florida runs a school-choice voucher program; Wyoming does not.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Florida went to Trump by 13 points and Wyoming went to Trump by 43 points.
Florida has permitless carry and a Giffords gun-law grade of F; Wyoming has permitless carry and a grade of F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions in both states, and marijuana is medical only in Florida and illegal in Wyoming as of 2026. The minimum wage is $13.00 an hour in Florida and $7.25 in Wyoming.
Climate and risk
Natural disaster risk is very high in Florida (hurricane, flood, tornado) and moderate in Wyoming (blizzard, drought, wildfire), so Wyoming is the lower-risk state. Annual average air quality index is 28 in Florida and 30 in Wyoming (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
2
Florida
11
Wyoming
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Florida or Wyoming better to live in?
Wyoming wins more of the measures that decide a move. Wyoming on taxes ($3,120 a year for a median household against $4,766); Wyoming on everyday costs (index 101 against 103); Wyoming on safety (221 violent crimes per 100,000 against 387); Florida on schools (ranked 19th against 39th).
Which is cheaper, Florida or Wyoming?
Wyoming is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 101 against 103. The median home is $415K in Florida and $350K in Wyoming (2024). On state and local taxes Wyoming saves a median household about $1,600 a year.
Does Florida or Wyoming have lower taxes?
Wyoming. 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 $3,120 in Wyoming ($0 income tax, $1,925 property tax on the median home and $1,195 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Which is safer, Florida or Wyoming?
Wyoming, on the FBI's 2023 figures. Violent crime is 387 per 100,000 residents in Florida and 221 in Wyoming; property crime is 1,882 against 1,812.
Which has better schools, Florida or Wyoming?
Florida. Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks Florida 19th of 50 for K-12 and Wyoming 39th. Florida also offers school-choice vouchers.
Is Florida or Wyoming 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; Wyoming 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 $1,925 in Wyoming.