Miami, FL
No state income tax, a global city, and an ocean on the other coast.
Miami is the move for people who want to trade one big, international, coastal city for another, with Florida's tax structure on top. Moving from Los Angeles to Miami is usually less about buying a lot more house and more about lifestyle, business and taxes. In the most recent Redfin data (May 2026) the typical Miami home sold for about $650K, versus about $904K for the typical LA County zip code.
The money picture
| Typical LA County zip | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $904K | $650K |
| Median price per sq ft | $588 | $535 |
| Median days on market | n/a | 114 |
| State income tax on wages | Progressive, top rate 13.3% | None (Florida has no personal income tax) |
Market figures: Redfin Data Center. Miami: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026. Medians are a rough guide and hide a wide range of homes. Tax rates as published by each state for tax year 2026; rates change, so verify with the state's revenue department.
Miami homes recently sold for about $535 per square foot, compared with about $588 in the typical LA zip, so on a per-foot basis the gap is smaller than many people expect. The typical detached house sold for about $810K and the typical condo for about $540K. Condos make up a large share of the city's sales. The median home took 114 days to sell and closed at about 95.0% of list price (Redfin, May 2026), so buyers have had time to be selective.
On taxes, Florida has no personal income tax. Florida offers a homestead exemption on a primary residence, and its "Save Our Homes" rule limits annual increases in the assessed value of a homesteaded home. Homeowners and flood insurance are a major part of the cost of owning in Florida, so get quotes early. See the Florida Department of Revenue for official details, and our California to Florida guide for the bigger picture.
A household with $200,000 of taxable income would have no Florida state income tax on it, because Florida has no personal income tax. The year of the move still typically involves a part-year California return, income tied to California (such as the gain on an LA home sale) is generally California-source, and insurance and property taxes belong in the comparison. This is a simplified illustration; a CPA can model a specific situation.
Miami is a market where the building matters as much as the unit. For condo buyers, the association's budget, reserves, insurance and recent or planned assessments can change the real cost of ownership, so those documents deserve a close read before an offer. For detached houses, insurance quotes and elevation are worth checking early. On the LA side, our guide to selling your LA home and moving out of state lays out how to sequence the sale and the move.
What people tend to weigh
- Climate. Tropical: warm all year, humid, with a rainy summer season and hurricane season from June through November.
- Housing stock. High-rise condos dominate the core and waterfront, with detached houses in established neighborhoods away from the towers.
- Travel back to LA. Miami International has frequent nonstop flights to LAX, plus strong connections to Latin America and Europe.
- Insurance and condo costs. Insurance, association fees and building reserve requirements can be significant, so review condo budgets and get insurance quotes before committing.
Common questions
How much does a home cost in Miami compared with Los Angeles?
The typical Miami home sold for about $650K ($535 per square foot) in Redfin's May 2026 data, versus about $904K ($588 per square foot) for a typical LA County zip code. Medians hide a wide range of homes.
Does Florida have a state income tax?
None (Florida has no personal income tax). California's top marginal rate is 13.3%. Tax rules change, so confirm current rates with the state's revenue department and a CPA.
How fast are homes selling in Miami?
Homes in Miami had a median of 114 days on market and sold for about 95.0% of list price on average (Redfin, May 2026).
What could $1 million from an LA sale buy in Miami?
As a rough illustration, $1 million at Miami's median of $535 per square foot works out to about 1,870 square feet, compared with about 1,700 at the LA median. Use the calculator on this page for your own numbers.
The move starts with the sale.
Before you land anywhere, your LA home has to sell, and how it sells sets your budget for everything after. The seller's playbook covers timing, California withholding at closing, transfer taxes and the questions to bring your CPA.