Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/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 $2,750 in San Francisco, CA versus $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 50% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$1,242
+20% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,324
+45% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,673
+44% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$1,729
+47% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$375,300
+73% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$71,302
+50% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$48,940
+34% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
35.6 yr
+4.1 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
50.2%
+11.7 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
44.6%
+15.5 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
24.7 min
+6.5 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
443.4
+26% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
3,962.2
1,473.2
+63% in San Francisco, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.3°F
73.4°F
+16.1°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
46.3 in
+22.6 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$6.05/gal
$4.25/gal
+30% in San Francisco, CA

Area: San Francisco vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in San Francisco, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.9
+55% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$23.62
+14% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in San Francisco, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / FL)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Tampa?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Tampa?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).