Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $71,302 in Tampa, FL. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,242
+25% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,324
+5% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,673
+11% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,729
+10% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$375,300
+5% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$71,302
+0% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$48,940
+10% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
35.6 yr
+13.6 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
50.3%
50.2%
+0.1 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
44.6%
+12.9 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
24.7 min
+5.1 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
443.2
+36% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
2,024.6
1,473.2
+27% in Newark, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.9°F
73.4°F
+18.5°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
46.3 in
+3.2 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.83/gal
+3% in Newark, DE

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)
19.3
15.1
+22% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$23.62
+21% in Newark, DE

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 (DE / FL)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
None
+6.6 pp in DE

Newark vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Tampa?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Tampa?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).