Florida to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Florida to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricane threats vs volcanic landscapes), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Poke), real estate & housing (spanish influence, modern vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pork
- Hawaii housing costs are 116% more expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in Hawaii is 31.80% more expensive than in Florida
- Our top recommended Florida to Hawaii movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to Hawaii
- Hurricane threats
- Humidity levels
- Flat terrain
- Tourist congestion
- Volcanic landscapes
- Mild ocean breezes
- Mountain adventures
- Secluded beaches
- Higher cost of living
- Limited urban areas
- Higher food prices
- Occasional rainstorms
- No state income tax
- Vibrant nightlife
- Diverse cuisine
- Year-round sunshine
Pros of moving from Florida to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to hurricane threats and hello to volcanic landscapes
- Look forward to moving away from humidity levels and moving to Hawaii with mild ocean breezes
- Swap the flat terrain of Florida for mountain adventures in Hawaii
- Get ready for secluded beaches in Hawaii
Cons of moving from Florida to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from no state income tax in Florida to live with a higher cost of living in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of vibrant nightlife and have to settle for the con of limited urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to diverse cuisine and get used to higher food prices in Hawaii
- Swap year-round sunshine for occasional rainstorms
Florida vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Kalua Pork |
Most popular street food item | Cuban Sandwich | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit Tacos | Poi |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Florida to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Cuban Sandwich, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pork and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit Tacos they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Poi of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Matsumoto Shave Ice, and Leonard's Bakery.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and Hawaii
Comparison | Florida | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Spanish Influence, Modern | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Beachfront, Pools, Gated Communities | Ocean View, Lanai (porch or veranda), Eco-friendly |
- The Spanish Influence and Modern architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference beachfront, pools, and gated communities, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views, a lanai (porch or veranda), and eco-friendliness.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Hawaii is more walkable than Florida.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Hawaii is more bike-friendly than Florida.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than Florida.
- Hawaii housing costs are 116% more expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in Hawaii is 31.80% more expensive than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and Hawaii
Comparison | Florida | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Flooding | Volcanoes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90/75 | 85/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70/48 | 78/63 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 63 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 0 (except on mountain tops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Florida to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 17% more sunshine days than Florida.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 5 degrees colder than in Florida.
- The average winter lows in Hawaii are 15 degrees warmer than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 13 more inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and Hawaii
Comparison | Florida | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 1.4%-11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.05% | 4.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Construction, Agriculture | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Medium | Low |
Homelessness | Concerning | Serious |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 33% more than those in Florida
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 69% higher than what you are used to living in Florida
- Bummer... By moving from Florida to Hawaii, you'll now have a state income tax of 1.4%-11%
- The affluence in Hawaii is high compared to moderate in Florida
- The poverty level is low in Hawaii compared to medium in Florida
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Florida and serious in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. Hawaii
Comparison | Florida | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State with a Lean Towards Conservatism | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Diverse, with Significance in National Elections | Local Issues Often Center on Environmental and Native Rights |
Religion | Christian Majority with a Mix of Other Faiths | A Diverse Religious Landscape, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Indigenous Practices |
- Florida tends to lean swing State with a Lean Towards Conservatism in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as a Diverse Religious Landscape including Christianity, Buddhism, and Indigenous Practices
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian Majority with a Mix of Other Faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to Hawaii
Comparison | Florida | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Doral Academy Charter Elementary School (Miami) Pine View School (Osprey) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) | Punahou School (Honolulu) Momilani Elementary School (Pearl City) Maunawili Elementary School (Kailua) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Pine View School (Osprey) JosΓ© MartΓ MAST 6-12 Academy (Hialeah) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Design and Architecture Senior High (Miami) Pine View School (Osprey) Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Henry J. Kaiser High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bolles School (Jacksonville) Berkeley Preparatory School (Tampa) American Heritage School (Plantation) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | American Heritage School (Plantation) Bolles School (Jacksonville) Admiral Farragut Academy (St. Petersburg) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) |
Top Florida to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Florida to Hawaii