Cost of living, taxes, and quality of life compared for 2026 — with a verdict.
Illinois vs Florida comes down to what you value. Illinois is the more affordable of the two — its cost of living runs about 0% lower than Florida, so the same paycheck stretches further. Florida ranks higher overall on our Best Life Rank (#22 vs #45), balancing cost against quality of life. Illinois is strongest on schools and weakest on air quality; Florida is strongest on economy and weakest on climate.
| Metric | Illinois | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| BLISS score (cost) | 0.98 2% below average | 0.98 2% below average |
| Best Life Rank | #45 | #22 |
| Cost of living | #26 | #27 |
| Climate | #42 | #39 |
| Healthcare | #28 | #35 |
| Schools | #14 | #16 |
| Safety | #27 | #22 |
| Economy | #47 | #4 |
| Air quality | #48 | #14 |
Ranks are out of 50 states (#1 = best). BLISS score is a cost-of-living multiplier where 1.00 = the U.S. average; lower is cheaper. Green = the better of the two.
To live the way $100,000 does in Illinois, you'd need about $100,000 in Florida.
To live the way $100,000 does in Florida, you'd need about $100,000 in Illinois.
Based on each state's BLISS cost score. See your real after-tax paycheck in each state below.
Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Illinois taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Enter your salary and get your actual paycheck after Florida taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›Illinois is cheaper. Its cost of living is about 0% lower, reflected in a BLISS score of 0.98 versus 0.98. A lower BLISS score means your paycheck goes further.
On our Best Life Rank, which balances cost against climate, healthcare, schools, safety, economy and air quality, Florida ranks higher (#22 vs #45). But 'better' depends on your priorities — Illinois leads on schools while Florida leads on economy.
Because of the cost-of-living difference, $100,000 in Illinois is roughly equivalent to $100,000 in Florida for the same lifestyle. See each state's real after-tax take-home pay with our paycheck guides linked above.