Is it cheaper to live in Tampa or Tucson?

Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Tampa than in Tucson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tampa versus $36,000 in Tucson.

Which has lower taxes, Tampa or Tucson?

Tampa is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Tampa vs Tucson Cost of Living 2026

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/mo est.

Tucson

Arizona

$1,060/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,500 in Tampa, FL versus $1,060 in Tucson, AZ. Overall, Tucson, AZ is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,302 in Tampa, FL and $54,546 in Tucson, AZ — about 24% higher in Tampa, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Tampa, FL

Tucson, AZ

Rent

Studio

$1,242

$795

+36% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,324

$891

+33% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,673

$1,146

+32% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,729

$1,520

+12% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,300

$242,200

+35% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$71,302

$54,546

+24% in Tampa, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,940

$47,760

+2% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.6 yr

34.6 yr

+1.0 yr in Tampa, FL

Homeownership

50.2%

51.7%

+1.5 pp in Tucson, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.6%

30.2%

+14.4 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

24.7 min

22.2 min

+2.5 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

443.4

645.8

+46% in Tucson, AZ

Property Crime

1,473.2

3,460

+135% in Tucson, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

73.4°F

70.2°F

+3.2°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

11.6 in

+34.7 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$5.57/gal

+31% in Tucson, AZ

Area: Florida vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

Free

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.6

+5% in Tucson, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$19.69

+17% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Tucson, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Tucson, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Tucson, AZ

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Tucson, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Tucson, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Tucson, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / AZ)

5.6%

+0.4 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in AZ

Tampa vs Tucson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tampa or Tucson?: Tucson, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tampa than in Tucson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tampa versus $36,000 in Tucson.
Which has lower taxes, Tampa or Tucson?: Tampa is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Tucson under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).