Short answer: heating in Florida is cheap with a heat pump and pricey with straight electric heat. Here are realistic ballparks and the math behind them.

What most Floridians actually pay (per winter month, Dec–Feb)

• South FL (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale):
  • Heat pump: ~$10–$30
  • Electric strip heat: ~$30–$90
• Central FL (Orlando/Daytona/Tampa):
  • Heat pump: ~$20–$60
  • Electric strip heat: ~$60–$180
• North FL (Jacksonville/Tallahassee/Pensacola):
  • Heat pump: ~$40–$120
  • Electric strip heat: ~$120–$300

Why the range? Outdoor temps, home size/insulation, thermostat habits, and whether your system uses efficient heat pump heating or energy-hungry electric resistance (strip) heat.

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The quick math (so you can sanity-check)

• Electric rate: Florida averages about 15–17¢/kWh (varies by utility). Electric ChoiceEnergySageAxios
• Heating need: Florida’s winters are mild, measured by heating degree days (HDD).
  • Miami ~200 HDD/yr, Orlando ~525 HDD/yr (1991–2020 normals), Jacksonville ~1,400 HDD/yr (higher = more heat needed). Climate Zone+1Florida Climate Center
• Efficiency difference:
  • Typical heat pump delivers roughly 10,300 BTU per kWh over a season (example HSPF 10.3 ≈ COP ~3).
  • Electric strip heat gives 3,412 BTU per kWh (COP ~1).
    → Strip heat uses about 3× as much electricity for the same heat. The Department of Energy’s Energy.govEnergy Vanguard

If a Central FL home needs ~15–25 million BTU for the whole winter (ballpark for average-sized, reasonably insulated homes), that’s roughly:

• Heat pump: 15–25 MMBtu ÷ 10,300 BTU/kWh ≈ 1,450–2,430 kWh/season → at 16¢/kWh ≈ $230–$390/season (≈ $20–$60/mo for Dec–Feb).
• Strip heat: 15–25 MMBtu ÷ 3,412 BTU/kWh ≈ 4,400–7,300 kWh/season → ≈ $700–$1,170/season (≈ $60–$180/mo).
  (Your exact number shifts up/down with HDDs: Miami ≈ lower end; Jacksonville ≈ higher end.)

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How to lower your winter bill in Florida

• Use “Heat” (not “Emergency Heat”) on your thermostat—EM heat forces strip heat.
• Set a gentle schedule: small setbacks (1–2°F) to avoid triggering strips on big recoveries.
• Keep filters clean & coils washed, especially near the coast (salt air).
• Add a smart thermostat with heat-pump-friendly settings (lock out/limit aux heat).
• Seal ducts/attic leaks; they matter even more when the system runs at low loads.