Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Tampa?

Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Tampa?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Tampa?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Denver vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 22% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,242

+17% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,324

+16% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,673

+15% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,729

+24% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$375,300

+36% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$71,302

+22% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$48,940

+21% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

35.6 yr

+0.4 yr in Tampa, FL

Homeownership

49.1%

50.2%

+1.1 pp in Tampa, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

44.6%

+11.0 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

24.7 min

+0.7 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

998.3

443.4

+56% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.9

1,473.2

+69% in Denver, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

73.4°F

+23.2°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

46.3 in

+30.7 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.58/gal

$4.25/gal

+7% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

$2.00

+27% in Denver, CO

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs HART (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.7

14.9

+11% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.64

$23.62

+103% in Tampa, FL

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Denver, CO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Denver, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Denver, CO

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / FL)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

None

+4.4 pp in CO

Denver vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Tampa?: Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Tampa?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).