Living Cost Compare
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 9% higher in Reno, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$964
$1,242
+29% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,206
$1,324
+10% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,518
$1,673
+10% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,885
$1,729
+8% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$498,600
$375,300
+25% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$78,448
$71,302
+9% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,660
$48,940
+1% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.3 yr
35.6 yr
+1.7 yr in Reno, NV
Homeownership
49.4%
50.2%
+0.8 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.7%
44.6%
+8.9 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
20.6 min
24.7 min
+4.1 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
528.9
443.2
+16% in Reno, NV
Property Crime
2,489.3
1,473.2
+41% in Reno, NV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.8°F
73.4°F
+19.6°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
7.4 in
46.3 in
+38.9 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.77/gal
+26% in Reno, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
15.2
+12% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.09
$23.62
+95% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / FL)
6.85%
6%
+0.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Reno vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Tampa?
Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or Tampa?
Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).