Hawaii → Florida
Moving from Hawaii to Florida
The Life Transition Specialist
Bring your love of island life, water, and community to a coast with a similar spirit, and trade Hawaii's 11 percent top income tax and $976,000 median home price for a state with no income tax and far more home for your money.
The honest why
Why are Hawaii families moving to Florida?
Hawaii is paradise, but it is an expensive one: an income tax that reaches 11 percent, a median home price near $976,000, and everyday costs among the highest in the nation. Florida offers island-style living on the mainland, with no state income tax at all, effective property tax rates near 0.8 percent of home value, median prices that start around $367,000 on the Treasure Coast, and the same salt air, boats, and beaches that define island life. The flight is long, about 10 hours with one connection from Honolulu, but Hawaii families who relocate usually find the transition to a similar waterfront lifestyle with dramatically lower costs.
Do the math
Tax Savings: Hawaii vs Florida
State Income Tax
Up to 11% (nation's second-highest)
0% (no state income tax)
Full elimination
Property Tax (annual avg)
~$2,000–$4,000 depending on island
~$3,500–$5,500 on a typical home
Comparable, with far lower home prices
Median Home Price
~$976,000 statewide; $900K+ Honolulu
~$367K–$682K by county
Hundreds of thousands in savings
Sales Tax
4% + county surcharges (avg ~4.5%)
6% state (about 6.5–7% in Florida)
Higher, but offset by eliminated income tax
Tax Savings Estimate
A family moving from Hawaii (income tax up to 11 percent, median home price near $976,000) to Florida (zero state income tax, effective property tax near 0.8 percent) could save $15,000–$30,000+ per year in combined taxes and a few hundred thousand dollars on the home itself. Over a 10-year period, the tax savings alone total $150,000–$300,000+, before the housing-cost difference.
Where the movers come from
Popular Hawaii Towns People Move From
These are the origins Michael hears most from clients relocating to the Treasure Coast and Florida.
Honolulu
Oahu's capital, the state's urban and economic heart
~$900K+ median
Kailua
Windward Oahu beach town with a famous white-sand shore
~$1.3M median
Waipahu
Central Oahu suburb with more attainable prices
~$800K median
Kihei
South Maui town with sunny beaches and condos
~$1.1M median
Hilo
Big Island town with rainforest, rain, and lower prices
~$600K median
Pearl City
Oahu suburb near Pearl Harbor, family-oriented
~$850K median
How far your dollar goes
What Your Budget Buys: Hawaii vs Florida
In Hawaii, $976,000 (near the statewide median) typically buys a modest 3-bedroom home in a mid-tier Oahu suburb, and beachfront is a different galaxy entirely. In Florida, that same budget buys a waterfront single-family home in Jensen Beach or Vero Beach, a pool home with canal access in Port St. Lucie, a newer construction in Palm City, or a spacious condo with ocean or Intracoastal views on the Gold Coast. Families who sell in Hawaii routinely pay cash or buy well under budget in Florida.
Getting here, getting around
Commute Options & Getting Around
Hawaii is the farthest origin on the site, so flying is the only practical option: about 10 hours with one connection from Honolulu to Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Once you land, I-95 and the Florida Turnpike handle the region, Palm Beach International is the Treasure Coast's home airport at 45–55 minutes from Stuart and Port St. Lucie, and Tri-Rail plus Brightline connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Seasonal note: the weather transitions are gentle, both places are warm and coastal, but Florida adds mainland road trips, interstate highways, and a far lower cost of living.
Flight from Honolulu
~10 hrs
HNL with a connection to MIA or FLL
PBI to Treasure Coast
~45–55 min
Palm Beach International to Stuart and Port St. Lucie
FLL to Treasure Coast
~1.5 hrs
Fort Lauderdale airport north via I-95
Tri-Rail & Brightline
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach
Regional train links along the coast
The three gateways: Palm Beach International (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL), and Miami International (MIA) put the whole region within reach. PBI is the Treasure Coast's home airport at 45–55 minutes from Stuart, Jensen Beach, and Port St. Lucie; FLL is about 1.5 hours north; and MIA anchors the southern metro.
Where to look first
Recommended Florida Communities for Hawaii Relocators
From the Treasure Coast to the Gold Coast, these are the communities Michael steers Hawaii buyers toward first.
Jupiter
Coastal town with marinas, rivers, and family beaches
Boca Raton
Gold Coast town with golf, dining, and strong schools
Vero Beach
Upscale beach town with a relaxed, resort pace
Palm City
Family-friendly Martin County town with river access
Schools first, neighborhoods second
School Districts for Hawaii Relocators
Hawaii runs a single statewide district, while Florida's county-run systems bring dense, well-funded options across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties, with magnet programs, charter schools, and established private schools along the coast. Property taxes fund Florida public schools, so homes in highly rated districts tend to hold value better, and the Homestead Exemption caps assessed-value growth for primary residences.
Straight answers
Hawaii → Florida FAQ
01 How much can I save on taxes by moving from Hawaii to Florida?
A family could save $15,000–$30,000+ per year: Hawaii's up-to-11 percent income tax disappears entirely, replaced by zero state income tax, and property tax rates near 0.8 percent keep the property side in line. Over 10 years, that's $150,000–$300,000+ in tax savings alone, before the home-price difference.
02 How far is Florida from Hawaii?
It is the longest move on the site, about 10 hours of flying with one connection from Honolulu to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, and there is no practical drive. Hawaii families typically fly in for a house-hunting trip, then move their household goods by sea or air.
03 What do I need to know about getting a Florida driver license and registering my vehicle?
Florida gives new residents 30 days to get a Florida driver license and 10 days to register their vehicles and transfer titles. You will need proof of identity, Social Security number, and Florida residency, and a vehicle registration is required before you can get license plates. Many Hawaii families ship a car and register it fresh in Florida.
04 How does the Homestead Exemption work for new Florida homeowners?
Homestead your primary residence and you remove up to $50,000 of assessed value from your property tax bill, plus up to $25,000 more for school taxes for most owner-occupants. The Save Our Homes cap then holds annual assessment growth near 3 percent. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence as of January 1 to qualify for that tax year.
05 What should I know about insurance and hurricane readiness?
Florida and Hawaii both live with tropical weather, so Hawaii families already understand the drill. Florida home insurance includes windstorm coverage, flood insurance is separate, and hurricane season runs June through November. New-construction homes are built to current wind codes, and shutters, supplies, and a plan are standard practice.
06 What is the median home price difference between Hawaii and Florida?
Hawaii's statewide median is about $976,000, among the highest in the nation. Florida runs from about $367,000 in Indian River County to about $682,000 for single-family homes in Miami-Dade, so the same budget that buys a modest Oahu suburb home can buy waterfront in Florida.
Plan the move
More Relocation Resources
Cost of Living Calculator
Compare housing, taxes, utilities, transportation, and everyday costs between Florida and major origin states. Runs entirely in your browser, nothing is sent anywhere.
Open CalculatorFlorida Tax Guide for New Residents
Income tax, property tax by county, sales tax rules (yes, clothing is taxed in Florida), the homestead exemption, and a state-by-state comparison with your origin state.
Read the Florida Tax GuideFlorida Cost of Living by Category
Housing
Median home prices across the six counties Michael serves run from about $367,000 in Indian River County to about $682,000 for single-family homes in Miami-Dade, with Palm Beach single-family medians around $605,000-$645,000 (county Realtor data, 2026). Homesteaded primary residences get an exemption, and assessed-value growth is capped, so the tax bill stays predictable.
Taxes
Florida has no state personal income tax, so wages, pensions, Social Security, and investment income are all free of state tax. The state sales tax is 6 percent, with local surtaxes adding roughly a percent in most Florida counties (per the Florida Department of Revenue). Effective property tax rates run about 0.71-0.96 percent of home value depending on county (county property appraiser data).
Utilities
Florida electricity rates sit near the national average (about 14-15 cents per kWh), with typical monthly residential bills around $160-$166 (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2026); air conditioning runs much of the year, so summer bills run higher. Full utility packages in the Miami metro average around $410 a month.
Transportation
Florida is car-centric, with I-95 and the Florida Turnpike as the spines and further commuter options on Tri-Rail and Brightline between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Car insurance is a real line item here: Florida leads the nation at roughly $272 a month average for full coverage.
Healthcare
Florida healthcare costs run close to the national average, with major networks across the region, including Cleveland Clinic Florida, Baptist Health, Memorial Healthcare System, and Jackson Health in Miami. Hospital density is strongest in the three southern counties.
Groceries
Grocery prices in Florida track near the national average (index about 101-103), with Publix, Winn-Dixie, Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe’s well represented along the coast. Seasonal produce and seafood are excellent and inexpensive at local markets.
Start your move with a plan
Let's plan your move to Florida
Michael “Wiz” Wisniewski is your Certified Real Estate Planning Advisor and The Life Transition Specialist, serving clients from the Treasure Coast to Florida with The Complete Real Estate Team, powered by Dalton Wade Real Estate. Real estate is the best investment most families make; Michael makes sure yours builds, protects, and transfers generational wealth.
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