Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 11% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$1,242
+15% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,324
+22% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,673
+22% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,729
+31% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$375,300
+57% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$71,302
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$48,940
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
35.6 yr
+1.3 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
50.2%
+13.9 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
44.6%
+6.8 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
31.1 min
24.7 min
+6.4 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.5
443.4
+39% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,501.2
1,473.2
+2% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.0°F
73.4°F
+6.4°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
46.3 in
+25.1 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.25/gal
+28% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Tampa, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.9
+55% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$23.62
+14% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Los Angeles, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / FL)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or Tampa?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or Tampa?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).