Florida Local Expert
Vanessa Leikvoll
“She fosters dogs but answers to the two parakeets who clearly run her house.”
See full bio
Moving to Texas from FL: Read This Before You Pack a Single Box
Florida's sunshine and beaches have a way of making it hard to imagine life anywhere else, but plenty of residents are trading the Atlantic breeze for the Lone Star State every year. The two states share some obvious common ground, like warm weather and no state income tax, yet the lifestyle shift between them runs deeper than most people expect. Florida living means navigating coastal sprawl, relentless humidity, and hurricane season, while Texas offers vast metros, affordable land, and a culture built around wide open space and hometown pride. Our Snappy Scout team (Vanessa & Francesca) dug into the real costs, moving logistics, and day to day changes so you can feel prepared long before the moving truck pulls out of the driveway.
Who's Behind This Guide
FL to Texas Distance Breakdown
Average distance
1,200miles
Typical route
Most routes from Florida to Texas travel westward along I-10, which serves as the primary corridor connecting the two states. Depending on origin and destination, drivers may also use I-75, I-95, I-4, I-20, or US-90 to connect to I-10.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Miami, FL → Houston, TX
~1200 miles
Orlando, FL → Dallas, TX
~1100 miles
Jacksonville, FL → San Antonio, TX
~1050 miles
Tampa, FL → Austin, TX
~1100 miles
Pensacola, FL → El Paso, TX
~1300 miles
Should You Move From Florida to Texas Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Texas from Florida is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
The No-Nonsense Cost of a FL to Texas Move
Moving 1,200 miles from Florida to Texas will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
3–10days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Who Is the FL to Texas Move Actually For?
Well, it depends. If you're a Tech Bro or Hipster, you'll thrive in your move to Texas. But if you're more of a Beach Bum, Gamer, or Surfer Dude, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Florida to Texas.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from FL to TX
Tech Scene
Florida
3.5
/10
Texas
8
/10
Florida
Giving up
Startup buzz is rising, but Silicon Valley still owns the crown.
Texas
Gaining
Austin’s laid back Silicon Hills startups and Plano’s corporate tech parks
Recommended TX cities/areas for Tech Bros
AustinPlano
Florida
3.5
/10
Texas
8
/10
Hipsters
Florida
5
/10
Texas
7
/10
Florida
Giving up
Art murals pop, but ironic beards wilt in the humidity.
Texas
Gaining
East Austin murals on dive bars and Marfa’s quirky never ending parade of high-concept art, like the Prada installation
Recommended TX cities/areas for Hipsters
East AustinMarfa
Florida
5
/10
Texas
7
/10
Beach Culture
Florida
10
/10
Texas
3
/10
Florida
Giving up
Year-round surf, sand, and Margaritaville moods everywhere you go.
Texas
Gaining
Galveston beaches are charming but the Texas beach sand lacks Florida’s white sparkle
Recommended TX cities/areas for Beach Bums
GalvestonCorpus Christi
Florida
10
/10
Texas
3
/10
Gaming
Florida
7.5
/10
Texas
4
/10
Florida
Giving up
Mega conventions and humid nights spent grinding indoors.
Texas
Gaining
SXSW Gaming buzz exists, though eSports scene is a bit smaller than California
Recommended TX cities/areas for Gamers
Florida
7.5
/10
Texas
4
/10
Surfing
Florida
9
/10
Texas
5.5
/10
Florida
Giving up
Ron Jon Surf Shop was practically built for you
Texas
Gaining
South Padre waves are decent even if they never reach the heights of California curls
Recommended TX cities/areas for Surfer Dudes
South Padre Island
Florida
9
/10
Texas
5.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Texas?
Summer thunderstorms in Texas are loud, powerful, and offer a welcome break from the heat.
– Francesca Hernandez-Singer
Texas Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Florida and living in Texas
FloridaTexas
FL Food vs Texas Food: The Real Difference
Eating Like a Local in Florida
This really varies by where in Florida you are. But, generally, Cuban and Latin-inspired food here is very popular, as well as what I refer to as "beach bar food:" coconut shrimp, grouper bites, crab cakes, gator bites, fish tacos, and of course, margaritas (especially spicy ones with a Tajin rim).
I don't think there are any unspoken rules here, per se, except that you always want to get the freshest fish available, such as mahi mahi or grouper, and skip the conventional white fish.
Vanessa LeikvollFlorida Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Texas
Breakfast tacos are on flour tortillas, BBQ means beef, and the margaritas come with salt on the rim unless you order without.
Francesca Hernandez-SingerLocal Texas ExpertIs Texas a More Affordable State for Your Tax Life?
Florida
Texas
FloridavsTexas
State Income Tax
State Income TaxNone. Sunshine is free, and so is your paycheck.
None, zero percent statewide!!
Florida
None. Sunshine is free, and so is your paycheck.
VS
Texas
None, zero percent statewide!!
Property Taxes
Property TaxesModerate overall; Miami-Dade higher, Panhandle pleasantly lower.
Houston and Dallas areas higher, smaller cities slightly lower
Florida
Moderate overall; Miami-Dade higher, Panhandle pleasantly lower.
VS
Texas
Houston and Dallas areas higher, smaller cities slightly lower
The People, Politics, & Religion Landscape Between FL and Texas
Florida
Texas
FloridavsTexas
People
PeopleFriendly but eccentric; equal parts laid-back, loud, and lightning-fast with opinions.
Famously friendly, fiercely proud, big on hospitality
Florida
Friendly but eccentric; equal parts laid-back, loud, and lightning-fast with opinions.
VS
Texas
Famously friendly, fiercely proud, big on hospitality
Politics
A wild beach party of red and blue—expect flip-flops and fiery debates.
Deep red roots, but cities (especially Austin) swing progressive
Florida
A wild beach party of red and blue—expect flip-flops and fiery debates.
VS
Texas
Deep red roots, but cities (especially Austin) swing progressive
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, with Catholic and evangelical strongholds; growing Jewish and nonreligious communities.
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist presence, growing diversity
Florida
Mostly Christian, with Catholic and evangelical strongholds; growing Jewish and nonreligious communities.
VS
Texas
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist presence, growing diversity
Weather Comparison Between FL and Texas
SUMMER
Florida
Just plain hot (triple digits and 98% humidity in Miami)
Texas
blast furnace (triple digits in West Texas)
WINTER
Florida
Sweater optional (unless you're in the Panhandle, then it's gloves and regret)
Texas
light sweater tease (except in the Panhandle, where you'll happily don long johns and fleece-lined outerlayers)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Texas
Outdoor music venues and food & wine festivals are still going strong in October!
Francesca Hernandez-SingerLocal Texas ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Texas
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Florida, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Texas. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Texas local experts.
Moving toAustin
Prep for Tacos, Traffic & Endless Live Music
