Living Cost Compare
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,302 in Tampa, FL and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 33% higher in Washington, DC. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Tampa, FL
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,242
$1,763
+42% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,324
$1,885
+42% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,673
$1,949
+16% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$2,249
+30% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,300
$724,600
+93% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$71,302
$106,287
+49% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,940
$71,060
+45% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
34.9 yr
+0.7 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
50.2%
41.1%
+9.1 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.6%
63.6%
+19.0 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
24.7 min
30.3 min
+5.6 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
443.4
936
+111% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
1,473.2
3,627.1
+146% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+15.2°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
46.3 in
39.7 in
+6.6 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Washington, DC

Area: Florida vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
25.0
+68% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$18.01
+24% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.75%
+10.8 pp in DC

Tampa vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tampa or Washington?
Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tampa than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tampa versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Tampa or Washington?
Tampa is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).