Does Georgia or Florida have lower income tax?

Florida has zero state income tax; Georgia has a flat 5.39% in 2026 (phasing to 5.19% by 2027 under HB 1437). On a $100K salary the difference is roughly $4,800/yr in Florida's favor. On $200K it's roughly $10,500/yr. Florida's advantage grows linearly with income because Georgia is a flat rate.

Is Georgia property tax higher than Florida?

No, they're effectively tied. Georgia averages 0.83% effective; Florida averages 0.85%. On a $400K home both states run about $3,300-$3,400/yr. Florida's Save Our Homes assessment cap (3% annual growth post-homestead) is the long-term tiebreaker, but year-one bills are essentially identical.

Does Georgia tax retirement income?

Partially. Georgia excludes up to $65,000 of retirement income per person (so $130,000 MFJ) for residents 65 and older — covering pensions, IRA distributions, 401(k) withdrawals, and most other retirement income. Below the exclusion threshold, Georgia retirement income is state-tax-free. Above it, Georgia's 5.39% flat rate applies. Florida charges $0 on all retirement income.

Why is Florida insurance so much higher than Georgia?

Florida's hurricane exposure (1.5 named-storm impacts/yr statewide) and the 2022 carrier exits after Hurricane Ian have pushed average homeowner premiums to $5,600/yr — roughly double Georgia's $2,500. Senate Bill 2A (2022 Special Session) and subsequent reforms have stabilized the market, but premiums remain elevated. Georgia's coastal counties (Glynn, Camden, Chatham) carry hurricane risk too but at lower frequency.

Should I move from Atlanta to Florida for tax savings?

It depends on income and home value. Above $150K household income, Florida's $0 income tax usually nets positive after Florida's higher insurance — savings of $5,000-$15,000/yr depending on home location. Below $130K, the insurance bill tends to consume the income-tax savings. Renters see only the income-tax win; homeowners need to model both sides. Run the numbers on your specific home value before committing.

State Comparison

Georgia vs Florida: Tax & Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

Georgia and Florida share climate, accents, and a Southern coastline, but the tax math diverges sharply. Georgia is a flat 5.39% in 2026 (phasing to 5.19% by 2027 under HB 1437); Florida is zero. Property and sales tax run close. The real differentiation is whether you'll trade $5,000-$10,000/yr in income tax for hurricane-belt insurance and Atlanta's commute.

Last reviewed: May 7, 2026 · Reviewed by ProSalaryTax tax research team

TL;DR — 30-second version

1.On $100K, Florida take-home runs roughly $4,800/yr higher than Georgia — Florida's $0 income tax against Georgia's 5.39% flat (after standard deduction). Above $200K the gap widens past $10,000/yr.
2.Property tax is roughly a wash — both states sit near 0.85% effective. Florida's Save Our Homes 3% assessment cap is the tiebreaker for long-term homeowners.
3.Sales tax favors Florida by about 0.4 percentage points (combined ~7.4% Georgia, ~7.0% Florida). Real money on big-ticket purchases; immaterial on weekly groceries (both states tax groceries at reduced/zero rates).
4.Georgia's retirement-income exclusion is generous: $65,000/yr per person excluded from state income tax for residents 65+. Florida's $0 still beats it, but Georgia closes the gap appreciably for retirees with pension and IRA distributions.
5.The lifestyle trade: Georgia delivers Atlanta's employer base (Delta, Coca-Cola, UPS, Home Depot, Truist), Blue Ridge weekends, and lower hurricane risk. Florida delivers beaches, Disney, and the no-income-tax math — but $5,600/yr homeowner insurance.

Take-Home Pay: Georgia vs Florida

Gross Salary	Georgia	Florida	Difference
$50,000	$40,596	$42,355	+$1,759 Florida
$75,000	$58,536	$61,593	+$3,057 Florida
$100,000	$74,826	$79,180	+$4,354 Florida
$150,000	$106,842	$113,791	+$6,949 Florida
$200,000	$139,383	$148,927	+$9,544 Florida

Assumes single filing status, standard deduction, no 401(k) or HSA contributions. 2026 tax year.

Tax-by-Tax Breakdown

Income Tax

Georgia: 5.39% flat (2026; 5.19% by 2027)

Florida: 0% — no state income tax

Winner: Florida

Georgia House Bill 1437 (2022) replaced the prior six-bracket schedule with a flat rate, started at 5.49% in 2024 and phasing down 0.10 points per year subject to revenue triggers. Standard deduction is $12,000 single / $24,000 MFJ. Florida's constitution bans personal income tax outright.

Property Tax

Georgia: 0.83% effective

Florida: 0.85% effective

Winner: Tie (slight edge Florida)

On a $400K home, Georgia runs ~$3,300/yr; Florida runs ~$3,400/yr — within rounding. Florida's Save Our Homes assessment cap (3% annual growth post-homestead) is the long-term tiebreaker. Georgia's standard homestead exemption is $2,000 — token. House Bill 581 (2024) added an optional statewide homestead floating exemption that some counties opted into in 2025.

Sales Tax

Georgia: 4% state + up to 5% local (avg ~7.4%)

Florida: 6% state + up to 2% local (avg ~7.0%)

Winner: Florida by ~0.4 pts

Georgia's state portion is among the lowest in the country (4%), but counties stack aggressively — Atlanta metro counties (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb) regularly hit 8-8.9%. Florida's combined ~7.0% is more uniform statewide. Georgia exempts groceries from state sales tax; localities can still tax groceries up to 4%.

Estate Tax

Georgia: None

Florida: None

Winner: Tie

Neither state has estate or inheritance tax. Estates above the federal $13.99M exemption (2026) owe federal only. Both states are equally favorable for estate-planning purposes.

Atlanta Premium vs Florida's Insurance Bill

Median home prices through Q1 2026 sit at roughly $340K in Georgia (Atlanta metro $410K, Savannah $325K, Augusta $235K) versus $390K in Florida (Miami metro $560K, Tampa $370K, Orlando $370K, Jacksonville $310K). Atlanta and Tampa land within $40K of each other; the bigger price gaps are at the extremes — South Florida much pricier, rural Georgia much cheaper.

Homeowner insurance is where Florida's economics fall apart, and Georgia quietly wins the lifestyle math. Georgia averages $2,400-$2,800/yr statewide; Florida averages $5,600 with south Florida above $7,000. On a $400K home, Florida's insurance premium more than offsets Florida's $5,000/yr income-tax savings for households earning under ~$120K. The income-tax math only clearly wins above $150K household.

Sales tax stacks differently in each state. Georgia exempts groceries from the state portion (4%) but counties can tax up to 4% on groceries. Florida exempts groceries entirely. On non-grocery retail Florida runs about 0.4 percentage points lower; on groceries Florida wins clearly for households spending $12,000+/yr on food at home — about $480/yr at typical family-of-four spending.

Auto insurance and electricity lean Georgia. Georgia electricity averages 12¢/kWh (Georgia Power dominant); Florida averages 13¢/kWh (FPL, Duke). Auto insurance: Georgia $1,900/yr, Florida $2,100/yr — Florida's no-fault PIP requirement raises the floor. Net energy-and-auto difference is roughly $300/yr in Georgia's favor.

Income tax on $100K (single)

Georgia ~$4,800/yr · Florida $0. Georgia's $12,000 standard deduction reduces taxable income; effective state rate on $100K gross is about 4.8%. The phase-down to 5.19% by 2027 only narrows the gap to roughly $4,500/yr.

Property tax on $400K home

Georgia ~$3,300/yr · Florida ~$3,400/yr. Functionally a tie. Florida's Save Our Homes 3% assessment cap matters most for long-term homeowners; Georgia's HB 581 (2024) floating homestead exemption is opt-in by county.

Homeowner insurance avg (2026)

Georgia ~$2,500/yr · Florida ~$5,600/yr. Florida's coastal exposure plus post-Ian carrier exits keep premiums elevated. Georgia's hurricane risk is lower (Savannah and Brunswick aside), keeping the statewide average closer to the national norm.

Sales tax (combined avg)

Georgia 7.4% · Florida 7.0%. Florida wins by 0.4 pts on the average; in Atlanta proper (Fulton 8.9%) the gap widens to closer to 1.9 pts versus Tampa or Jacksonville (~7.5%).

Retirement income exclusion

Georgia: $65,000/person excluded if 65+ (combined $130,000 MFJ). Florida: $0 income tax, period. Below $130K of household retirement income, Georgia is competitive for senior couples; above it Florida pulls ahead.

Median home price (Q1 2026)

Georgia $340K (Atlanta metro $410K) · Florida $390K (Tampa $370K, Miami metro $560K). Atlanta and Tampa price within $40K; Florida's south coast is the structural premium.

Who Wins for Whom

Family, $90K household, Atlanta-to-Tampa potential move

Best fit: Florida (narrow)

Georgia state tax on $90K runs roughly $3,800; Florida $0. Net direct savings $3,800/yr. Tampa homeowner insurance averages $3,500 versus Atlanta's $2,500 — a $1,000/yr offset. Property tax is functionally tied (~$3,300-$3,400/yr on a $400K home in either state). Net Florida favor at this profile is $2,500-$3,000/yr — meaningful but not a no-brainer. Atlanta's school district premium (Forsyth, Cherokee, Fayette) often closes the gap entirely for school-focused families.

Retiree couple, $65K combined retirement income

Best fit: Roughly even — pure lifestyle pick

Georgia's retirement income exclusion ($65K per person, $130K combined for residents 65+) covers this couple entirely — Georgia state tax owed: $0. Florida state tax: $0. Both states fully exempt Social Security and pension distributions at this scale. Property tax is effectively tied. The decision rests on hurricane risk tolerance (Florida higher), proximity to family, and whether the couple values Georgia's Blue Ridge mountain access or Florida's beaches more.

Tech worker, $200K base

Best fit: Florida

Income-tax savings of $9,500-$10,500/yr at this income level overwhelm Florida's higher insurance premium for renters and offset it for homeowners outside south Florida. Atlanta's tech base is real (Mailchimp, NCR, Cox, Truist) but Tampa, Orlando, and Miami fintech (Citadel, Apollo Global) have closed the talent-pool gap since 2020.

Retiree (couple, $150K combined retirement income)

Best fit: Roughly even

Georgia excludes up to $130,000 of retirement income for couples 65+, making the effective state tax on $150K of retirement income only 5.39% × $20,000 = ~$1,080/yr. Florida is $0 either way. Below $130K of retirement income, Georgia wins on cost of living; above it Florida wins on tax. Hurricane risk and family proximity are usually the deciding factor.

Family with kids, $130K household

Best fit: Georgia (Atlanta northern suburbs)

Atlanta's school-quality top-tier (Forsyth, Cherokee, Fayette counties) plus Blue Ridge weekend access plus lower insurance cost makes Georgia the practical choice for families. The $5,000/yr Georgia income tax is real but is offset by Florida's higher home insurance for any household south of Tampa, and matched by lower groceries plus auto insurance.

Homeowner, 20-year hold

Best fit: Florida (slight edge)

Save Our Homes 3% cap compounds to $30,000-$50,000 of cumulative property-tax savings over 20 years versus Georgia's annual reassessments. Combined with $0 income tax that compounds across decades of rising salaries, Florida edges Georgia on a long-hold scenario — caveated by insurance volatility.

High earner, $500K+

Best fit: Florida

Income tax savings at this level run $25,000-$27,000/yr — a structural margin no Georgia advantage can close. Both states have no estate tax, so estate planning is equivalent. Florida's homestead creditor protection (Article X §4, unlimited in value) gives high-net-worth Florida residents an edge that Georgia's ~$2K homestead exemption cannot match.

Should You Actually Move?

Both states are net inbound on Census migration, but Florida draws more from outside the South while Georgia draws regionally. Florida added about 365,000 residents in 2024-2025 (largely from New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California). Georgia added about 110,000, with the largest inflow from Florida itself — retirees and remote workers exiting Florida's insurance market for Atlanta-area housing.

The Florida-to-Georgia counter-migration is real and growing. Insurance costs in south Florida have pushed homeowners 200-300 miles north into Georgia counties (Camden, Glynn, Lowndes) where premiums drop by half. The income-tax cost is a real $4,000-$6,000/yr at typical Georgia household incomes, but the insurance and storm-risk savings often net positive over a 10-year horizon.

Georgia's downside: Atlanta traffic is consistently ranked top-3 worst in the US (TomTom, INRIX). Home buyers consistently underestimate the commute differential between Forsyth/Cherokee/Cobb and downtown Atlanta — 45-90 minutes is common. Florida's metro density is lower; Tampa and Jacksonville commutes average 25-35 minutes.

Run your numbers through the right calculator

Salaried, freelance, bonus, overtime, or tips — pick the tool that matches your event.

Salary Calculator

Annual gross to take-home: federal + state + FICA + 401(k)/HSA modeling for all 50 states.

Calculate take-home

Overtime Calculator

Apply the 2025 OBBBA 'No Tax on Overtime' deduction (up to $12,500) and see real savings.

Calculate OT take-home

1099 Tax Calculator

1099, sole prop, or LLC: self-employment tax (15.3%) plus quarterly estimates.

Calculate SE tax

Bonus Calculator

Year-end, sign-on, retention, or commission. Compare flat 22% vs aggregate withholding.

Calculate bonus

Georgia vs Florida: The Honest Verdict

Below ~$130K household income, the income-tax-vs-insurance trade is roughly neutral or favors Georgia. Above $150K, Florida's $0 income tax pulls ahead by $5,000-$25,000/yr depending on income — a margin Georgia cannot match even after the full HB 1437 phase-down. The break-even point shifts based on home value (higher home → Florida insurance penalty grows) and whether you're south or north of Tampa.

Single highest-leverage move: don't buy a Florida home in your first year south of Tampa — rent, weather one storm season, watch the insurance market. For Georgia movers, the highest-leverage move is the opposite: buy on day one in a tier-1 school district (Forsyth, Fayette, Cherokee) because Atlanta-metro home appreciation has outpaced the Sun Belt average since 2020 and waiting costs more than buying does. Both states reward the same underlying decision — pick a metro with real employer density and stay long enough for the tax math to compound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.

Sources & Methodology

Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay

Enter your salary, filing status, 401(k), and HSA to see your personalized result in any state.

Open Full Calculator