Living Cost Compare
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 12% higher in Tampa, FL. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,009
$1,242
+23% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,324
+35% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,128
$1,673
+48% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,729
+25% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$437,100
$375,300
+14% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,800
$71,302
+14% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,010
$48,940
+2% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
23.7 yr
35.6 yr
+11.9 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
39.9%
50.2%
+10.3 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
45.0%
44.6%
+0.4 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
18.5 min
24.7 min
+6.2 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
205.7
443.2
+115% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
1,280.6
1,473.2
+15% 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
53.4°F
73.4°F
+20.0°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
19.8 in
46.3 in
+26.5 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.83/gal
+10% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
15.1
+13% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.84
$23.62
+99% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Tampa, FL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Provo, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / FL)
6.1%
6%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
None
+4.5 pp in UT

Provo vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Tampa?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Tampa?
Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).