Compare states
Florida vs Tennessee for retirement
On the 8 lines this page tracks, Tennessee 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
Florida vs Tennessee, answered.
Is Florida or Tennessee cheaper to retire in?
On the BEA cost-of-living index, Tennessee sits at 92 and Florida at 103, where 100 is the U.S. average. So the same basket of goods tends to cost less in Tennessee. Housing and your own budget still decide the real number.
Which has lower taxes for retirees, Florida or Tennessee?
Florida has no state income tax. Tennessee has no state income tax. Florida's average combined sales tax is 7.0% and its property-tax planning rate is 0.9%; Tennessee is 9.6% and 0.7%.
Does Florida or Tennessee tax Social Security?
Florida does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. Tennessee does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
Where is long-term care cheaper, Florida or Tennessee?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, assisted living runs about $67,320 a year in Florida and $70,140 in Tennessee; a semi-private nursing-home room is about $124,100 versus $113,150.