City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Tampa, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 2.8% higher than in Tampa, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tampa, FL would need about $102,800 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA and $1,696 in Tampa, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in WA and $0 in FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Olympia, WA to Tampa, FL ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.6% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (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
| Olympia, WA | Tampa, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 100.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,318 in Tampa | $102,755 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,696/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $48,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 125.8 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 95.5 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 97.6 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 100.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Tampa, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
76 Strong offer
Tampa, FL → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Tampa, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Tampa, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Tampa, FL | Real change, Olympia → Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | −8.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | −8.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | −8.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | −8.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | −8.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Tampa, FL | Tampa pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $60,120 | $61,777 (−41.0%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $130,450 | $134,045 (+8.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $78,990 | $81,167 (−14.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $85,470 | $87,825 (−29.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.