Living Cost Compare
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 13% higher in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,301
$1,242
+5% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,323
$1,324
+0% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,462
$1,673
+14% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,715
$1,729
+1% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$377,800
$375,300
+1% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$82,424
$71,302
+13% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,990
$48,940
+6% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
35.6 yr
+0.9 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
51.2%
50.2%
+1.0 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
52.9%
44.6%
+8.3 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
23.4 min
24.7 min
+1.3 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
491.5
443.4
+10% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
2,838
1,473.2
+48% in Raleigh, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
60.6°F
73.4°F
+12.8°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
46.3 in
+0.3 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.25/gal
+1% in Raleigh, NC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Tampa, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
14.9
+7% in Raleigh, NC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$23.62
+35% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / FL)
4.75%
6%
+1.3 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
None
+4.0 pp in NC

Raleigh vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Tampa?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Tampa?
Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).