Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Tampa?

Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Tampa?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 23% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,242

+10% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$1,324

+4% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$1,673

+2% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,729

+11% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$375,300

+1% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$71,302

+23% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$48,940

+13% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

35.6 yr

+4.1 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

50.2%

+6.2 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

44.6%

+4.1 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

25.3 min

24.7 min

+0.6 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

443.2

+169% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

1,269

1,473.2

+16% in Tampa, FL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.2°F

73.4°F

+24.2°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

46.3 in

+1.7 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.83/gal

+3% in Nashua, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

15.1

+44% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$23.62

+9% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Tampa, FL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / FL)

None

+6.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Nashua vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Tampa?: Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Tampa?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).