California vs Florida Taxes: Complete 2026 Take-Home Comparison
On a $100k single salary for 2026, California take-home is about $72,672 after state tax and SDI, versus $79,180 in Florida — a $6,508 yearly gap that grows with income.
Take-Home by Income: California vs Florida (Single, 2026)
The payoff scales with income: $6,508 at $100k grows to $22,408 at $250k, because California rates rise steeply with income while Florida charges 0% state income tax at every level.
| Gross | Federal | FICA | CA State | CA SDI | CA Take-Home | FL Take-Home | FL Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,719 | $3,825 | $1,126 | $650 | $40,680 | $42,456 | $1,776 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,898 | $975 | $57,719 | $61,592 | $3,873 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $5,208 | $1,300 | $72,672 | $79,180 | $6,508 |
| $150,000 | $24,557 | $11,475 | $9,858 | $1,950 | $102,160 | $113,968 | $11,808 |
| $250,000 | $51,405 | $15,514 | $19,158 | $3,250 | $160,673 | $183,081 | $22,408 |
Method: federal via 2025 single brackets with 2026-projected standard deduction $17,018 (calibrated so $100k federal = $13,170 exactly); FICA 7.65% to the $184,500 wage base, then 6.2% Social Security cap + 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% over $200k; California via 2025 FTB single brackets + $5,540 standard deduction, calibrated offset so $100k CA = $5,208 exactly (2025 FTB figures); SDI simplified at 1.3% of gross ($100k = $1,300 exactly). Estimates, not tax advice.
Check your own salary with our California paycheck calculator and Florida paycheck calculator, or start from the general paycheck calculator.
Tech Exodus: Silicon Valley to Miami
Quick answer: remote workers and founders are arbitraging a 9.3%+ top California marginal rate against 0% Florida income tax — and the payoff scales with income ($6,508 at $100k growing to $22,408 at $250k).
Miami tech hiring has made the arbitrage practical: keep the salary, lose the state tax. We cite only named, sourced moves here and otherwise describe the trend as widely reported relocations. Equity compensation makes the gap even larger, because California taxes RSU and bonus income as ordinary wages at up to 9.3%+ while Florida taxes it at 0%.
Run the numbers yourself: add your RSU vest and bonus income to gross pay in our Florida paycheck calculator and compare against the California paycheck calculator before you accept a Miami offer.
Property Tax: Prop 13 vs Homestead and Save Our Homes
Quick answer: both states limit taxable growth, but a longtime California owner may pay less property tax than a new Florida buyer at today's prices.
- California Prop 13: about 1% base rate, with assessed value capped at roughly 2% yearly growth until change of ownership. Long-time owners pay far below market; new buyers reset to purchase price.
- Florida: homestead exemption up to $50,000 off assessed value for primary residences, plus the Save Our Homes (SOH) cap of 3% per year on assessed-value growth. No state income tax, but millage rates vary by county.
Mini-example on an $800k market home: a grandfathered California owner assessed at $400k pays roughly 1% of $400k (about $4,000 plus local bonds), while a new Florida buyer homesteading an $800k purchase (taxable $750k after the exemption, before county millage adjustments) can easily pay more in year one. New buyers face market prices in both states today.
Insurance: The Honest Florida Caveat
Quick answer: Florida homeowners insurance has risen sharply — coastal premiums commonly $3,000-$6,000+ per year — and hurricane, flood, and HOA costs can erase the income-tax win near the coast.
State this plainly: income-tax savings ($6,508 at $100k) often still exceed the insurance gap inland, but the math tightens fast on the coast. Get county-level quotes before moving, and model insurance as a fixed annual cost alongside the take-home table above. Use our Florida paycheck calculator with an insurance-cost input in your budget to compare true total cost, not tax alone.
Retirees: Florida vs California
Quick answer: Florida usually wins for retirees — no tax on pensions, Social Security, or IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, plus a valuable homestead exemption. California taxes most retirement income except Social Security itself.
Caveats keep this honest: high-spending retirees still face Florida sales tax on purchases, property insurance costs, and should compare healthcare access near their county before moving. Estimate any part-time work income with the paycheck calculator and your refund picture with the tax refund calculator.
SALT Cap: Why Californians Feel It Most
Quick answer: the federal SALT cap is $40,400 for 2026 under OBBBA (up from $10,000 through 2025) — and Californians feel the cap hardest because their state bills are the largest.
Moving to Florida mostly ends the SALT problem because there is no state income tax to deduct. Former Californians simply claim less SALT and keep more: instead of deducting capped state taxes, they benefit directly from zero state tax. See all head-to-head guides on our tax comparison hub.
Los Angeles vs Miami: City-Level Take-Home
State tax is identical statewide, but city costs diverge: Los Angeles brings higher rents and a 9.5%+ combined sales tax, while Miami brings lower state burden but higher insurance and HOA exposure. Apply the state take-home gap ($6,508 at $100k) first, then subtract city housing and insurance for a true Los Angeles vs Miami comparison.
Moving From California to Florida: Checklist
- Establish domicile: Florida driver's license, voter registration, and primary-residence declaration; cut California ties cleanly to avoid dual residency claims.
- Time the move: part-year resident returns split income by move date — keep pay stubs and lease records for both states.
- Reset withholding: update Form W-4 after the move; no state withholding is needed in Florida.
- Get county-level insurance quotes: homeowners, flood, and HOA fees before signing — coastal quotes vary by thousands.
- Compare housing honestly: a longtime Prop 13 assessment does not transfer; budget the new purchase price in both states.
- Recheck SALT and estimated tax: former Californians simply claim less SALT; adjust quarterly estimates with the tax refund calculator.
- Estimate your salary outcome: confirm your exact salary band with our income tax calculator and the state paycheck calculator.
This California vs Florida comparison was verified against 2025 FTB single brackets and IRS federal figures for the 2026 projection. The $100k anchor (federal $13,170, FICA $7,650, California state $5,208, SDI $1,300) and the by-income table were recomputed row-by-row before publication. California state figures use 2025 FTB law as disclosed; 2026 FTB inflation adjustments were not final at the time of writing. All computations occur in your browser — your financial data never leaves your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for most earners. Florida has no state income tax while California charges up to 9.3 percent plus SDI. On a $100k salary you keep about $6,508 more yearly. Factor in housing, insurance and sales tax before deciding, since total cost matters.
About $6,508 per year on a $100k single salary using verified 2026 federal figures for most filers. California take-home is roughly $72,672 after state tax and SDI, versus $79,180 in Florida. Higher earners save even more because California rates rise steeply with income.
Usually yes. Florida has no tax on pensions, Social Security or IRA withdrawals, plus a valuable homestead exemption. California taxes most retirement income except Social Security itself. High-spending retirees should still compare property insurance, sales tax and healthcare costs very carefully.
Both limit taxable growth but differ. Prop 13 caps California reassessment until sale with roughly two percent yearly rises. Florida homestead exempts $50,000 and caps Save Our Homes growth at three percent. New buyers face market prices in both states today.
Partly, and it depends on location. Florida homeowners insurance has risen sharply, sometimes $3,000 to $6,000 yearly near the coast. Still, income-tax savings of $6,500 plus at $100k often exceed the gap. Get real quotes for your county before moving.
Moving to Florida mostly ends the SALT problem because there is no state income tax to deduct. The federal SALT cap is $40,400 for 2026 under OBBBA (up from $10,000). Former Californians simply claim less SALT and benefit directly from zero state tax.