Living Cost Compare
Houston

Texas

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Houston, TX versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 12% higher in Tampa, FL. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Houston, TX
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,142
$1,242
+9% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,156
$1,324
+15% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,375
$1,673
+22% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,664
$1,729
+4% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$253,400
$375,300
+48% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$62,894
$71,302
+13% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,410
$48,940
+1% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.3 yr
35.6 yr
+1.3 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
42.0%
50.2%
+8.2 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.0%
44.6%
+8.6 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
27.3 min
24.7 min
+2.6 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,155.2
443.4
+62% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
4,325.3
1,473.2
+66% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.3°F
73.4°F
+3.1°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
54.6 in
46.3 in
+8.4 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.25/gal
+11% in Tampa, FL

Area: Houston vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Tampa, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.9
+9% in Houston, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$23.62
+4% in Houston, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / FL)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Houston vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Tampa?
Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Tampa?
Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).