Multi-State Financial Cost Comparison 2026

Name: Multi-State Financial Cost Comparison 2026
Creator: Dreamy Leads Research
Published: 2026-04-26T00:00:00-04:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Summary

Financial costs vary significantly across states and cities. Auto insurance ranges from $130/month in Charlotte (NC) to $380/month in Miami (FL); the national 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 7.28% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week of October 1, 2026); and debt settlement programs reduce unsecured balances by 40–60% in all six states. This page aggregates city-specific data from Dreamy Leads Research' 525-page research network across FL, TX, CA, GA, NC & AZ for journalists, bloggers, and researchers to cite freely.

🔊 Listen to this answer

📺 Watch: Why Car Insurance Costs So Much in 2026

Correction (October 20, 2026): the Texas uninsured share in this video’s title and narration was an earlier figure with no source. The Insurance Research Council’s 2023 estimate is 14.5% of Texas drivers (about one in seven); for the other states it is North Carolina 11.8%, Arizona 10.6%, Texas 14.5%, Georgia 19.0%, California 20.4% and Florida 20.6%. The narration uses the earlier figures.

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All data on this page is free to use in articles, reports, and research. When citing, please attribute: Dreamy Leads Research (dreamyleads.com/multi-state-financial-cost-comparison-2026.html) — Multi-State Financial Cost Comparison 2026. Media inquiries: Dreamy@dreamyleads.com

Key Findings at a Glance

Insurance

$128–$380/mo

Full coverage — Charlotte NC (lowest) to Miami FL (highest)

$62–$155/mo

Min coverage — Pensacola FL to Los Angeles CA

Mortgage

7.28%

30-year fixed, U.S. average (Freddie Mac PMMS, wk of Oct 1, 2026)

$203K–$1.27M

Median home value (Census ACS 2024) — Augusta GA (lowest) to San Jose CA (highest)

Solar

6 states

Solar guides by metro with each utility; modelled cost and payback withdrawn 2026-10-17 (the national median price per watt Berkeley Lab publishes is not a local price)

Debt Relief

40–60%

Avg unsecured balance reduction via settlement — all 6 states

24–48 months

Typical program timeline across FL, TX, CA, GA, NC & AZ

Auto Insurance Rates by City — FL · TX · CA · GA · NC · AZ 2026

Average monthly premiums for minimum and full coverage. Minimums vary by state: FL requires PIP+PDL; TX, CA, GA, NC, AZ require liability coverage only.

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City	County	Min Coverage/mo	Full Coverage/mo	Top Carrier	Guide
Florida — 16 cities▾
MiamiHighest	Miami-Dade	$110–$155	$270–$380	State Farm	View →
Fort Lauderdale	Broward	$100–$140	$235–$330	Progressive	View →
West Palm Beach	Palm Beach	$105–$145	$230–$320	GEICO	View →
Boca Raton	Palm Beach	$100–$140	$225–$315	GEICO	View →
Tampa	Hillsborough	$85–$120	$220–$310	State Farm	View →
Clearwater	Pinellas	$85–$120	$200–$280	State Farm	View →
Sarasota	Sarasota	$85–$118	$200–$280	GEICO	View →
St. Petersburg	Pinellas	$84–$118	$190–$270	Progressive	View →
Orlando	Orange	$82–$115	$190–$270	GEICO	View →
Fort Myers	Lee	$82–$115	$195–$270	State Farm	View →
Cape Coral	Lee	$80–$112	$190–$265	Progressive	View →
Lakeland	Polk	$78–$110	$180–$250	GEICO	View →
Jacksonville	Duval	$72–$105	$175–$245	GEICO	View →
Gainesville	Alachua	$70–$100	$160–$225	State Farm	View →
Tallahassee	Leon	$68–$98	$165–$230	GEICO	View →
Pensacola	Escambia	$62–$95	$155–$220	GEICO	View →
Texas — 4 cities▾
Houston	Harris	$90–$130	$175–$240	State Farm	View →
Dallas	Dallas	$88–$125	$170–$235	Progressive	View →
Austin	Travis	$80–$115	$158–$222	GEICO	View →
San Antonio	Bexar	$78–$112	$152–$215	State Farm	View →
California — 4 cities▾
Los Angeles2nd Highest	Los Angeles	$105–$155	$210–$295	GEICO	View →
San Diego	San Diego	$95–$138	$190–$265	Progressive	View →
Sacramento	Sacramento	$85–$120	$172–$240	State Farm	View →
San Jose	Santa Clara	$90–$130	$180–$252	GEICO	View →
Georgia — 4 cities▾
Atlanta	Fulton	$78–$112	$158–$225	State Farm	View →
Savannah	Chatham	$72–$102	$145–$205	GEICO	View →
Augusta	Richmond	$68–$98	$138–$195	Progressive	View →
Columbus	Muscogee	$65–$95	$132–$188	State Farm	View →
North Carolina — 4 cities▾
CharlotteMost Affordable	Mecklenburg	$62–$90	$128–$180	NC Farm Bureau	View →
Raleigh	Wake	$60–$88	$122–$172	State Farm	View →
Durham	Durham	$62–$90	$125–$175	GEICO	View →
Greensboro	Guilford	$60–$87	$120–$170	Progressive	View →
Arizona — 4 cities▾
Phoenix	Maricopa	$72–$105	$145–$205	State Farm	View →
Tucson	Pima	$68–$98	$138–$195	GEICO	View →
Scottsdale	Maricopa	$70–$102	$142–$200	Progressive	View →
Mesa	Maricopa	$70–$100	$140–$198	State Farm	View →

Mortgage Rates & Home Values by City — FL · TX · CA · GA · NC · AZ 2026

Freddie Mac publishes no city-level rate, so every row uses the national 30-year fixed average, 7.28% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week of October 1, 2026); local quotes vary by credit, down payment and lender. Home values are the U.S. Census Bureau's median value of owner-occupied housing units (American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table B25077) — owner-reported values, not 2026 sale prices.

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City	30Y Fixed (U.S. avg)	Median Home Value (2024 ACS)†	FHA Limit	Monthly Payment*	Guide
Florida — 16 cities▾
Miami	7.28%	$598,200	$667,000	~$3,680	View →
Sarasota	7.28%	$452,100 (metro)	$547,400	~$2,780	View →
West Palm Beach	7.28%	$480,700	$667,000	~$2,960	View →
Fort Lauderdale	7.28%	$579,300	$667,000	~$3,570	View →
Boca RatonPriciest FL	7.28%	$853,200	$667,000	~$5,250	View →
Tampa	7.28%	$494,400	$541,287	~$3,040	View →
Orlando	7.28%	$430,200	$541,287	~$2,650	View →
Cape Coral	7.28%	$401,800	$541,287	~$2,470	View →
Fort Myers	7.28%	$416,200	$541,287	~$2,560	View →
Clearwater	7.28%	$415,600	$541,287	~$2,560	View →
St. Petersburg	7.28%	$436,200	$541,287	~$2,690	View →
Lakeland	7.28%	$274,800	$541,287	~$1,690	View →
Jacksonville	7.28%	$325,300	$580,750	~$2,000	View →
GainesvilleMost Affordable FL	7.28%	$270,800	$541,287	~$1,670	View →
Tallahassee	7.28%	$294,500	$541,287	~$1,810	View →
Pensacola	7.28%	$314,100 (metro)	$541,287	~$1,930	View →
Texas — 4 cities▾
Houston	7.28%	$301,200	$541,287	~$1,850	View →
Dallas	7.28%	$340,400	$563,500	~$2,100	View →
Austin	7.28%	$571,000	$571,550	~$3,520	View →
San Antonio	7.28%	$260,900	$557,750	~$1,610	View →
California — 4 cities▾
San JosePriciest	7.28%	$1,271,200	$1,249,125	~$7,830	View →
Los Angeles	7.28%	$947,900	$1,249,125	~$5,840	View →
San Diego	7.28%	$980,700	$1,104,000	~$6,040	View →
Sacramento	7.28%	$515,800	$764,750	~$3,180	View →
Georgia — 4 cities▾
Atlanta	7.28%	$462,200	$718,750	~$2,850	View →
Savannah	7.28%	$302,200	$541,287	~$1,860	View →
AugustaMost Affordable GA	7.28%	$203,100	$541,287	~$1,250	View →
Columbus	7.28%	$219,700	$541,287	~$1,350	View →
North Carolina — 4 cities▾
Raleigh	7.28%	$450,300	$541,287	~$2,770	View →
Charlotte	7.28%	$431,900	$541,287	~$2,660	View →
Durham	7.28%	$439,400	$634,800	~$2,710	View →
Greensboro	7.28%	$290,200	$541,287	~$1,790	View →
Arizona — 4 cities▾
ScottsdalePriciest AZ	7.28%	$856,700	$557,750	~$5,280	View →
Phoenix	7.28%	$454,900	$557,750	~$2,800	View →
Mesa	7.28%	$440,800	$557,750	~$2,710	View →
TucsonMost Affordable AZ	7.28%	$299,700	$541,287	~$1,850	View →

*Estimated principal & interest on a 30-year loan for 90% of the median home value (10% down) at the national 30-year fixed average, 7.28% (Freddie Mac PMMS, week of October 1, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance, HOA. †Median value of owner-occupied housing units, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table B25077, city limits; Sarasota and Pensacola use their metro areas (North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota; Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent) because neither city meets the 65,000-population threshold for 1-year estimates.

Solar Installation Guides by City — FL · TX · CA · GA · NC · AZ 2026

City-by-city solar guides with each metro's utility. The cost and payback figures that stood in this table were our own model estimates and were withdrawn on October 17, 2026: the national median price per watt Berkeley Lab publishes is not a local price. The federal §25D credit expired for 2026 purchases. A solar lease or PPA can still capture the 30% §48E credit (for systems placed in service by December 31, 2027).

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City	Utility	Guide
Florida — 16 cities▾
Miami	FPL	View →
Fort Lauderdale	FPL	View →
Boca Raton	FPL	View →
Cape Coral	FPL	View →
West Palm Beach	FPL	View →
Fort Myers	FPL	View →
Sarasota	FPL	View →
Tampa	TECO / Duke	View →
St. Petersburg	Duke Energy	View →
Clearwater	Duke Energy	View →
Orlando	Duke Energy	View →
Jacksonville	JEA / Duke	View →
Lakeland	Duke Energy	View →
Tallahassee	TALQUIN Electric	View →
Pensacola	Gulf Power / AES	View →
Gainesville	GRU	View →
Texas — 4 cities▾
Houston	Oncor / CPS Energy	View →
Dallas	Oncor	View →
Austin	Austin Energy	View →
San Antonio	CPS Energy	View →
California — 4 cities▾
Los Angeles	SCE / LADWP	View →
San Diego	SDG&E	View →
San Jose	PG&E	View →
Sacramento	SMUD / PG&E	View →
Georgia — 4 cities▾
Atlanta	Georgia Power	View →
Savannah	Georgia Power	View →
Augusta	Georgia Power	View →
Columbus	Georgia Power	View →
North Carolina — 4 cities▾
Charlotte	Duke Energy Carolinas	View →
Raleigh	Duke Energy Progress	View →
Durham	Duke Energy Progress	View →
Greensboro	Duke Energy Carolinas	View →
Arizona — 4 cities▾
PhoenixFastest Payback	APS / SRP	View →
Tucson	TEP / APS	View →
Scottsdale	APS / SRP	View →
Mesa	SRP / APS	View →

Debt Relief Programs by City — FL · TX · CA · GA · NC · AZ 2026

Unsecured debt (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans). All figures are estimates based on industry averages.

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City	Min Debt (Settlement)	Avg Balance Reduction	Program Timeline	Regulator	Guide
Florida — 16 cities▾
Miami	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Fort Lauderdale	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Tampa	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Orlando	$7,500	40–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Jacksonville	$7,500	40–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
St. Petersburg	$7,500	40–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
West Palm Beach	$7,500	40–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Boca Raton	$7,500	40–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Sarasota	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Clearwater	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Cape Coral	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Fort Myers	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Lakeland	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Gainesville	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Tallahassee	$7,500	38–52%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Pensacola	$7,500	38–52%	24–48 months	FL OFR	View →
Texas — 4 cities▾
Houston	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	TX OCC	View →
Dallas	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	TX OCC	View →
Austin	$7,500	38–58%	24–48 months	TX OCC	View →
San Antonio	$7,500	38–58%	24–48 months	TX OCC	View →
California — 4 cities▾
Los Angeles	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	CA DFPI	View →
San Diego	$7,500	40–60%	24–48 months	CA DFPI	View →
Sacramento	$7,500	38–58%	24–48 months	CA DFPI	View →
San Jose	$7,500	38–58%	24–48 months	CA DFPI	View →
Georgia — 4 cities▾
Atlanta	$7,500	40–58%	24–48 months	GA DBF	View →
Savannah	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	GA DBF	View →
Augusta	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	GA DBF	View →
Columbus	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	GA DBF	View →
North Carolina — 4 cities▾
Charlotte	$7,500	40–58%	24–48 months	NC DOJ	View →
Raleigh	$7,500	40–58%	24–48 months	NC DOJ	View →
Durham	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	NC DOJ	View →
Greensboro	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	NC DOJ	View →
Arizona — 4 cities▾
Phoenix	$7,500	40–58%	24–48 months	AZ DIFI	View →
Tucson	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	AZ DIFI	View →
Scottsdale	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	AZ DIFI	View →
Mesa	$7,500	38–55%	24–48 months	AZ DIFI	View →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does car insurance cost across these states in 2026?

Full-coverage auto insurance ranges from about $128/month in Charlotte, NC (the lowest of the 36 cities studied) to roughly $380/month in Miami, FL (the highest). Minimum-coverage policies run about $62–$155/month, from Pensacola, FL to Los Angeles, CA.

What are 2026 mortgage rates and median home values in these markets?

The national 30-year fixed average was 7.28% in Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week of October 1, 2026; local quotes vary by credit, down payment and lender. Median values of owner-occupied homes in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey (1-year estimates, table B25077) range from $203,100 in Augusta, GA to $1,271,200 in San Jose, CA.

How much does solar cost and how long is the payback?

We print no installed price per watt or payback by city: the national median price per watt Berkeley Lab publishes is not a local price, so the solar table lists each metro's utility and guide, and the figures an earlier version showed were withdrawn on October 17, 2026.

How much can debt settlement reduce what you owe?

Across all six states, debt settlement reduces an enrolled unsecured balance by an average of 40–60% before fees, with a typical program timeline of 24–48 months.

Which states and cities does this comparison cover?

The dataset compares auto insurance, mortgage, solar installation, and debt-relief costs across 36 cities in six states: Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona, for 2026.

Methodology & Data Sources

All data reflects 2026 research compiled by Dreamy Leads Research' editorial research team across FL, TX, CA, GA, NC, and AZ. Rate ranges represent typical quotes for standard consumer profiles (clean driving record, 700+ credit score, owner-occupied property) and should be used as directional benchmarks, not individual rate guarantees.

Insurance rates: Based on state insurance department market data, carrier filings, and comparison quotes for a standard 35-year-old driver with a clean record across FL (FLOIR), TX (TDI), CA (CDI), GA (OIS), NC (NCDOI), and AZ (DIFI).
Mortgage rates: The national 30-year fixed average from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of October 1, 2026 (7.28%); Freddie Mac does not publish city-level rates. Individual rates vary based on LTV, credit profile, and lender.
Solar: the table lists each metro's utility and guide; its cost and payback figures were withdrawn on October 17, 2026 (the national median price per watt Berkeley Lab publishes is not a local price). Net costs apply the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (§25D, Form 5695), which expired for 2026 homeowner purchases. California payback periods reflect NEM 3.0 (effective April 2023 for SCE, SDG&E, and PG&E), which reduced export compensation rates significantly; Sacramento (SMUD) uses a separate net metering program with more favorable terms.
FHA loan limits: Each city's figure is the 2026 one-unit FHA forward limit for its county, from HUD's FHA Mortgage Limits lookup (CY2026). HUD's Mortgagee Letter 2025-23 sets the 2026 national floor at $541,287 and the high-cost ceiling at $1,249,125; counties between the two get a limit based on local median sale prices.
Debt relief: Settlement percentages are industry averages from AFCC and NFCC member data. Individual results vary based on creditor, debt type, and financial hardship documentation.
Home values: Median value of owner-occupied housing units from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates, table B25077 (city/place geography; Sarasota and Pensacola use their metro areas because neither city meets the 65,000-population threshold for 1-year estimates). These are owner-reported values, not sale prices, and are not adjusted for price changes since 2024. Monthly payment = principal and interest on 90% of that value over 30 years at the national 7.28% PMMS average.