City comparison
Miami, FL vs Tampa, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 13.1% higher than in Tampa, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tampa, FL would need about $113,100 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,696 in Tampa, FL. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 26% in Tampa, FL.
- Both are in FL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.1% moving from Miami, FL to Tampa, FL ($113,356 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.2% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
- Tampa, FL: price level 100.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Miami, FL | Tampa, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 100.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,380 in Tampa | $113,148 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $1,696/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $48,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 125.8 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 95.5 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 97.6 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 100.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → Tampa, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
99 Strong offer
Tampa, FL → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.6%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
30 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; Tampa, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to Tampa, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | Tampa, FL | Real change, Miami → Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $61,722 | +6.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $74,678 | +6.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $89,508 | +6.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $106,437 | +6.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $125,776 | +6.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | Tampa, FL | Tampa pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $60,120 | $68,025 (+16.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $130,450 | $147,602 (+11.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $78,990 | $89,376 (+10.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $85,470 | $96,708 (+5.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.