Florida Vs. Hawaii

A Comparison of Weather, Cost of Living Index and Ease of Travel by Vehicle

This is the third of a multi-part series. The first was Florida vs. Arizona and the second is Florida vs. Texas. I already stated in my original post of Florida compared with Arizona and other popular snowbird destinations as follows:

"Let's begin by addressing the obvious. It makes the most sense that if your primary home is on the West Coast that you choose a snowbird community that is also on the West Coast. Right? Investing yourself in an area will be a long term pursuit if you choose wisely and getting there is a huge consideration of where to go. If unsure, then try out different options and see what works best. I highly doubt most snowbirds will repeat a trip from say, Indiana, Michigan or Ohio to Arizona more than once or twice. It's a long, multi-day drive. I'm not a gambler, but if I was, I would put high odds on what I refer to as the big slide. Most snowbirds slide south to their winter destinations.

My region in Northwest Florida primarily attracts people from the Northern Midwest states with a sprinkling of other areas mixed in. Most of my friends and acquaintances drive south on Interstate 65 all the way to our panhandle community. The last thing I want to do is spend more time on the road trip than absolutely necessary, especially with a dog on board.

If an individual or couple does not have pets or a lot of absolutely necessary belongings, flying is a possibility. But, there's more than meets the eye with that and unless you have no other option, such as a medical condition or choosing Hawaii for your winter destination, a road trip makes the most sense for all of the snowbirds I've ever encountered.  

[Flying Snowbirds]

Traveling to your snowbird community is a major factor, but the cost of living and weather are also significant. More than one conversation with future snowbirds has taken place about "Which is better?" types of scenarios. This post is the second of several that will discuss "Which is better?" of two states. Florida is the long recognized gold standard of snowbird destinations. It is the king of the country for popularity attracting seasonal residents such as snowbirds. However, it is not the only option and for many, it's not the best option for their own personal circumstances and needs.

Here I will briefly provide the facts of three topics: weather, costs and ease of travel comparing Florida with Texas. As always, weigh everything carefully and do your own research. The general information provided here is for a basic overview of what to expect and not intended to be specific for my readers." 

[Florida vs. Arizona]

[Florida vs. Texas]

Which is Hotter? Florida or Hawaii?

Florida!

Florida is the number one hottest state in the US with an average temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit in 2024. Hawaii is ranked number four with an average temperature of 66.9 degrees Fahrenheit in 2024. In-between is Louisiana and Texas, followed by Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas and Oklahoma rounding out the top ten. Alaska is the least hot with an average temperature of 27.8.

Winters in Florida are mild and summers are hot and humid. July is the hottest month of the year in Florida, averaging 90 to 92 degrees and frequently exceeding 100 degrees. February is the coldest month in Hawaii with an average temp of 72 degrees. The hottest month in Hawaii is September with an average temp of 80.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Hawaii is very consistent in average temperatures and has never fallen below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) nor risen above 100 degrees.

Source: Climate at a Glance, StateWide Mapping - National Centers for Environmental Information

Source: https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/united-states/us

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/hottest-states

Although both Florida and Hawaii are humid, Florida edges out Hawaii with an average relative humidity of 74.5% vs. Hawaii with 73.3% average humidity. Alabama is the most humid state at 77.1%, followed by Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Maine and Vermont rounding out the top ten. Nevada is least humid with an average 38.3% rate, which makes it the most arid of all the states.

Humid heat always makes temperatures feel hotter and more stifling because the high moisture in the air makes it difficult for sweat to evaporate from human skin. However, humid temperatures are generally better for sinuses and can decrease symptoms of asthma and allergies. In a dry climate, you may sweat more than in humid heat, but may not notice because the moisture evaporates from skin more quickly. It is easier to become dehydrated in dry climates.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/most-humid-states

Which is Sunnier? Florida or Hawaii?

Hawaii!

Florida is known as the "Sunshine State," however, Florida is ranked number nine for sunshine, vs. Hawaii which is ranked number five.

Florida has an average of 66% sunny days per year and an average of 101 clear days and 2,927 sunny hours, making it ninth of the states in the US. Data was measured in Tampa, Florida located on the Western Peninsular side of Central Florida. Hawaii has an average of 71% sunny days per year and an average of 90 clear days making it fifth of the states in the US. Data was measured in Honolulu, Hawaii located on the island of Oahu. Data is not available for the number of sunny hours in Hawaii.

For comparison, Arizona is by far the top state in the US for sun exposure and has the highest percentage of sunny days at 85% and an average of 193 clear days per year. Arizona's average number of 3,806 sunny hours per year is followed by Nevada and New Mexico respectively with 79% and 76% to round out the top three. Data was measured in Tucson, Arizona located on the southern border.

States with the highest percentage of sunny days in descending order are: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, California, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Florida, Georgia, Utah, Kansas, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota and Virginia. Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Nebraska each have an average of 61% sunny days per year. Alaska has the least percentage of measured sunny days at 41%.

• • • “Sunlight Percentage” indicates the average annual percentage of time between sunrise and sunset that sunshine reaches the ground, based upon the past several decades of weather data.
    • Each state’s sunlight was measured using a specific test city, indicated below. Averages in other parts of the state may vary.
    • A small number of states lack sufficient data in one category or another

  Sources: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/sunniest-states

Which is More Intense? Florida or Hawaii Sun?

Hawaii!

The UV index is a measure of the strength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Hawaii and Florida both have very high UV rays; however Florida is rated as a "ten," and Hawaii is an "eleven." Hawaii is highest of the United States, ranking number one, followed by a four way tie of Florida, Arizona, California and Nevada with each rated a "ten." Florida has a 3,636 average daily UV Irradiance 2015. No data for average daily UV Irradiance 2015 is available for Hawaii. With the highest score of 11, Hawaii is the state closest to the Equator and thus has the most intense UV rays. Alaska is the lowest with a score of one.

Skin cancer, premature aging and other health problems are all linked to prolonged UV exposure of the sun. Precautions such as using sunblock and avoiding sun and UV exposure should be taken to lower the risk of sun-related health issues. 

• UV Index values shown are averages for the noon hour. The UV Index at any given time and place may be higher or lower depending factors including the time of day, cloud cover, and altitude.

Source: EPH Tracking

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/uv-index-by-state

Which is Cheaper? Florida or Hawaii?

Florida!

The Cost of Living Index indicates Florida is much more affordable than Hawaii. Although Florida is slightly more expensive than the national average, Florida's Cost of Living Index is 102.8 and Hawaii's score is much higher than anywhere else in the United States with a score of 186.9. Information included here is the most current "Composite Cost of Living Index 2024 Annual Average" published by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

The State of Hawaii is by far the most expensive state due to the whopping cost of living index of 186.9. For comparison, the state with the lowest score for 2024 is West Virginia at 84.1. My home state of Indiana is a reasonable 90.5 which is similar to Michigan's 90.4 and Iowa at 89.7. Other cold weather Midwestern states have scores as follows: Wisconsin, 97.0; Minnesota, 95.1; Illinois, 94.4; Ohio, 94.2 and Missouri, 88.7.

Northeastern states are all very high cost of living scores as follows: Massachusetts, 145.9; Washington D.C., 141.9; New York, 123.3; Maryland, 115.3; New Jersey, 114.6; Vermont, 114.4; New Hampshire, 112.6; Connecticut, 112.3; Rhode Island, 112.2; Maine, 112.1; Delaware, 100.8 and Pennsylvania, 95.1.

Northwestern states range from a high of California, 144.8; Alaska, 123.8; Washington, 114.2; Oregon, 112.0, Utah, 104.9; Colorado, 102.0; Idaho, 102.0; Nevada, 101.3; Wyoming, 95.5; Montana, 94.9; Nebraska, 93.1; South Dakota, 92.2; North Dakota, 91.9 and Kansas, 87.0.

Source: https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series

Which is Easier to Travel by Vehicle? Florida or Hawaii?

Florida!

Because the State of Hawaii is a cohesive group of 137 volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean approximately 2,000 miles southwest of the U.S. mainland, it is not accessible by vehicle. The only methods of transportation to Hawaii are by air or water. Therefore there are many travel considerations that are addressed in my previous post: Flying Snowbirds. The island of Oahu is home to 2/3 of the residents of Hawaii; however, intra-island transportation may be necessary depending on the logistics of flights and island destinations.

Florida has a distance of about 450 miles north to south with about 400 miles in the East/West upper portion of the state. No other state in the continental US can come close to Florida's 1,146 miles of shoreline. The peninsula of Florida is surrounded by the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean. Florida is almost 66,000 square miles and does not have any international border.

Hawaii's miles of shoreline is fourth overall with 750 miles of Pacific Ocean shoreline. California is third ranking between Florida and Hawaii with 840 miles of shoreline. Hawaii has zero miles of international border and is fourth smallest for land area with 10,931 square miles. Alaska is by far the largest US state with just over 665,000 square miles and 6,640 miles of Pacific Ocean shoreline. 

Florida has three major North/South interstate highways that will take you where you want to be. 

Interstate 95: Carolinas and Eastern Peninsular Florida

Interstate 75: Georgia, Central and Western Peninsular Florida

Interstate 65: Northwest Florida and Alabama