Miami vs Tampa
Miami, FL · Tampa, FL
Tampa is 18% cheaper than Miami overall.
Home Price
Miami: $620,000
Tampa: $390,000
Monthly Rent
Miami: $1,951/mo
Tampa: $1,435/mo
COL Index
Miami: 131
Tampa: 108
Median Income
Miami: $65,000
Tampa: $63,800
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Miami has the same purchasing power as $82,443 in Tampa — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Tampa cost 37% more (-$230,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Tampa saves you $516/month — $6,192 per year. Median rent: $1,951/mo in Miami vs $1,435/mo in Tampa.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Miami owners pay roughly $5,642/year in property taxes vs $3,549/year in Tampa. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $65,000 in Miami and $63,800 in Tampa. Incomes are similar, so cost of living differences matter more.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in Miami vs 27 minutes in Tampa. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Miami to Tampa, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Miami | Equivalent in Tampa | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,221 | -$8,779 |
| $75,000 | $61,832 | -$13,168 |
| $100,000 | $82,443 | -$17,557 |
| $150,000 | $123,664 | -$26,336 |
| $200,000 | $164,885 | -$35,115 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Miami Calculators
Tampa Calculators
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Miami vs Tampa: Common Questions
Is Miami or Tampa cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Tampa is cheaper overall. Miami has a COL index of 131 while Tampa scores 108 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Miami and Tampa?
The median home price in Miami is $620,000 vs $390,000 in Tampa — a difference of $230,000 (37%).
What salary do I need in Tampa to match my Miami income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Miami is equivalent to $82,443 in Tampa in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Tampa has a lower property tax rate (0.91% vs 0.91%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,549/year vs $5,642/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.