Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 1% higher in Tampa, FL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,242
+52% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,324
+47% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,673
+55% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,729
+38% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$375,300
+43% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$71,302
+1% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$48,940
+5% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.6 yr
+0.8 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
50.2%
+7.9 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
44.6%
+1.6 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
24.7 min
+5.4 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
443.2
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
1,473.2
+39% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
73.4°F
+11.3°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
46.3 in
+8.0 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.83/gal
+6% in Tampa, FL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.1
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$23.62
+2% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / FL)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Tampa?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Tampa?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).