City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Tampa, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 10.9% higher than in Tampa, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tampa, FL would need about $110,900 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $1,696 in Tampa, FL. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 26% in Tampa, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in San Diego, CA than in Tampa, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.5% moving from San Diego, CA to Tampa, FL ($121,585 → $106,437), while prices change by −9.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.9% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (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
| San Diego, CA | Tampa, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 100.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,171 in Tampa | $110,900 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $1,696/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $48,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 125.8 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 95.5 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 97.6 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 100.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Tampa, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
99 Strong offer
Tampa, FL → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.8%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
16 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Tampa, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Tampa, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Tampa, FL | Real change, San Diego → Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $61,722 | −2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $74,678 | −2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,508 | −2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,437 | −2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $125,776 | −2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Tampa, FL | Tampa pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $60,120 | $66,673 (−31.3%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $130,450 | $144,669 (−11.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $78,990 | $87,600 (−9.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $85,470 | $94,786 (−32.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.