Cost of Living in Tampa, FL
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Tampa, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Tampa, FL?
With a price level of 100.9 (U.S. average = 100), Tampa, FL is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 26% above average; everyday goods are 5% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Tampa, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.9 | +0.9% |
| Housing | 125.8 | +25.8% |
| Goods | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Utilities | 88.5 | −11.5% |
| Other services | 97.6 | −2.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Tampa, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,593 | $63,720/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,696 | $67,840/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,977 | $79,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,527 | $101,080/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,077 | $123,080/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Tampa, FL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Tampa, FL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,400 | $34,641 |
| $60,000 | $60,500 | $50,792 |
| $80,000 | $80,700 | $65,602 |
| $100,000 | $100,900 | $79,813 |
| $150,000 | $151,300 | $114,680 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Florida 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Tampa, FL's median wage of $48,940 takes home about $3,459 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,696, which is 49% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,763 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Tampa, FL
- Federal income tax$3,693
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,034
- Medicare (1.45%)$710
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,503
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Tampa, FL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Florida cities
Half of Florida’s 9,929,860 workers earn less than $47,880 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,290–$75,410 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tallahassee, FL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Miami, FL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $48,640 | 114.2 | $1,942 | 56% | $1,497 | $36,146 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,940 | 100.9 | $1,696 | 49% | $1,763 | $41,137 |
| Orlando, FL | $46,630 | 101.4 | $1,731 | 52% | $1,573 | $39,093 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,830 | 99.5 | $1,374 | 40% | $2,077 | $41,630 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 102.4 | $1,686 | 50% | $1,672 | $39,347 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $46,780 | 102.3 | $1,638 | 49% | $1,676 | $38,855 |
| Lakeland, FL | $46,140 | 97.1 | $1,230 | 38% | $2,041 | $40,409 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $49,030 | 100.0 | $1,478 | 43% | $1,987 | $41,574 |
| Deltona, FL | $44,940 | 99.4 | $1,393 | 44% | $1,798 | $38,533 |
| Pensacola, FL | $46,240 | 97.7 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,021 | $40,253 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $46,520 | 93.9 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,104 | $42,120 |
| Naples, FL | $47,800 | 103.2 | $1,797 | 53% | $1,585 | $39,329 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,490 | 100.2 | $1,467 | 45% | $1,828 | $39,445 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,020 | 96.7 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,137 | $41,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $47,510 | 97.0 | $1,492 | 44% | $1,871 | $41,589 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Tampa, FL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | 100.9 | $1,696 | $48,940 | 1,447,120 |
| Charlotte, NC | 97.3 | $1,428 | $49,990 | 1,358,370 |
| Baltimore, MD | 104.5 | $1,511 | $59,070 | 1,356,680 |
| San Diego, CA | 111.9 | $2,459 | $58,690 | 1,538,060 |
| St. Louis, MO | 95.1 | $989 | $49,990 | 1,341,320 |
| Austin, TX | 98.1 | $1,562 | $56,950 | 1,293,690 |
| Denver, CO | 105.8 | $1,754 | $62,320 | 1,609,350 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tampa, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area are 100.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 125.8%. It is the #70 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Tampa, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,534 in Tampa, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,940.
Can you afford Tampa, FL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,940 median wage takes home about $3,459 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,696 would take 49% of that.
How much is rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Tampa, FL are $1,593 for a studio, $1,696 for one bedroom, $1,977 for two bedrooms and $2,527 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Tampa, FL
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $168,470
- Financial Manager — $157,480
- Sales Manager — $132,010
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $124,980
- Construction Manager — $120,800
- Managers, All Other — $117,810
- General and Operations Manager — $103,670
- Food Service Manager — $80,180
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $97,780
- Management Analyst — $95,840
- Personal Financial Advisor — $82,580
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $81,610
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $79,910
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,990
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $77,990
- Compliance Officer — $75,920
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $130,450
- Information Security Analyst — $118,970
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $106,330
- Computer Systems Analyst — $105,080
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $101,560
- Computer User Support Specialist — $61,050
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Civil Engineer — $100,570
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $56,060
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $55,570
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $45,000
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $127,490
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $60,150
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $61,620
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,030
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,120
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $58,940
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $36,270
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $36,100
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $31,470
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
- Public Relations Specialist — $64,690
- Coach and Scout — $43,600
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $137,990
- Nurse Practitioner — $128,120
- Physical Therapist — $102,430
- Registered Nurse — $85,470
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $77,430
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $62,550
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $62,490
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $46,890
- Medical Assistant — $44,480
- Nursing Assistant — $37,470
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,210
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $75,710
- Firefighter — $59,660
- Security Guard — $36,010
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,240
- Bartender — $37,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,010
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,330
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,040
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,480
- Dishwasher — $31,670
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,210
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,800
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $32,570
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $45,490
- Recreation Worker — $36,840
- Animal Caretaker — $34,490
- Childcare Worker — $33,530
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $29,520
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $28,660
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $96,840
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $80,250
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $69,160
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $62,000
- Insurance Sales Agent — $60,820
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $59,600
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $48,540
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,290
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $64,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,650
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,070
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $50,870
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,090
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $47,620
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $47,510
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $46,570
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,980
- Electrician — $57,450
- Carpenter — $52,130
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $52,000
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,300
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $47,570
- Roofer — $47,170
- Construction Laborer — $43,750
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $75,880
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $60,970
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $50,540
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,880
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,020
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $64,510
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,930
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,180
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $38,490
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $38,070
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $37,930
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,640
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $50,560
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,850
- Light Truck Driver — $40,490
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,570
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,420
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $34,090
- Driver/Sales Worker — $32,830