Living Cost Compare
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,628 in Rochester, NY and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 35% higher in Tampa, FL. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Rochester, NY
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$750
$1,242
+66% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$857
$1,324
+54% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,114
$1,673
+50% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,240
$1,729
+39% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$120,600
$375,300
+211% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$46,628
$71,302
+53% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,210
$48,940
+4% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.6 yr
+2.1 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
37.2%
50.2%
+13.0 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.9%
44.6%
+14.7 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
18.9 min
24.7 min
+5.8 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
690
443.2
+36% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
3,533.4
1,473.2
+58% in Rochester, NY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
48.2°F
73.4°F
+25.2°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
34.3 in
46.3 in
+12.0 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.04/gal
$3.77/gal
+7% in Rochester, NY

Area: New York vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.9
15.2
+49% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.74
$23.62
+4% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Rochester, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Tampa, FL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / FL)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
None
+10.9 pp in NY

Rochester vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Tampa?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Tampa?
Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).