Living Cost Compare
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Richmond, VA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,671 in Richmond, VA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 12% higher in Tampa, FL. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Richmond, VA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,183
$1,242
+5% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,324
+11% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,673
+22% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,447
$1,729
+19% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$328,100
$375,300
+14% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$62,671
$71,302
+14% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,460
$48,940
+5% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.5 yr
35.6 yr
+1.1 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
43.5%
50.2%
+6.7 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
44.6%
+0.5 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
22.1 min
24.7 min
+2.6 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
349
443.2
+27% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
3,240.2
1,473.2
+55% in Richmond, VA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
58.9°F
73.4°F
+14.5°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
46.3 in
+2.7 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Richmond, VA

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)
17.6
15.2
+14% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$23.62
+0% in Richmond, VA

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 (VA / FL)
5.3%
6%
+0.7 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
None
+5.8 pp in VA

Richmond vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or Tampa?
Richmond, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (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 Richmond than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Richmond or Tampa?
Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).