Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 15% higher in Tampa, FL. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,242
+10% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,324
+11% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,673
+20% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,729
+23% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$375,300
+61% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$71,302
+17% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$48,940
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
52.3%
50.2%
+2.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
44.6%
+10.0 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
32.0 min
24.7 min
+7.3 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
916.8
443.4
+52% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,614.3
1,473.2
+68% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
73.4°F
+16.3°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
46.3 in
+2.2 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.25/gal
+1% in Philadelphia, PA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
20.9
14.9
+29% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.67
$23.62
+42% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Tampa, FL
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.73
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Philadelphia, PA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.56
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.02
$1.90
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.68
$0.61
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Philadelphia vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Tampa?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Tampa?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).