In Florida, when I moved here 10 years ago, I’d agree it was affordable. But it has gotten really expensive. Insurance is expensive in both auto and homeowners. And after two hurricanes, I see it going up even more. Gas is always more expensive than other states and food is costly here. You do save on no state taxes and property taxes, but everything else is very costly.
It depends on what part of the state you live on.
The house nextdoor was bought by a lady that sold her home in Miami......her smaller home there sold for twice what she paid cash for a 2500 square foot house here.
Also, when she got her first power bill here she laughed out loud about how low it was.....she said she was paying three times as much in south Florida.....so cost of living in Fla. is relative to locale.