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Arizona vs Florida for retirement
On the 8 lines this page tracks, Florida comes out lower or more retiree-friendly on 4 of them. That is a starting point, not a verdict: your own spending, housing, income mix, and the city you pick still decide the real number.
A green check marks the more retiree-friendly side on that line (lower cost, lower tax, or Social Security not taxed). Lower is not always better for you; these are state averages, not your plan.
Common questions
Arizona vs Florida, answered.
Is Arizona or Florida cheaper to retire in?
On the BEA cost-of-living index, Arizona sits at 101 and Florida at 103, where 100 is the U.S. average. So the same basket of goods tends to cost less in Arizona. Housing and your own budget still decide the real number.
Which has lower taxes for retirees, Arizona or Florida?
Arizona uses about a 2.5% blended retirement-income planning rate. Florida has no state income tax. Arizona's average combined sales tax is 8.5% and its property-tax planning rate is 0.6%; Florida is 7.0% and 0.9%.
Does Arizona or Florida tax Social Security?
Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. Florida does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
Where is long-term care cheaper, Arizona or Florida?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, assisted living runs about $75,000 a year in Arizona and $67,320 in Florida; a semi-private nursing-home room is about $100,375 versus $124,100.