Cost of LivingUpdated 2026-11-11

Tampa, Florida

Living in Tampa, Florida is close to the national average, with a cost of living index of 100 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,991 a month, 3% above the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.77 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 49% of the area's $75,011 median household income.

Key Numbers

Gas (Regular)

$3.77

National: $3.98

โ†‘ 187.7%since 2000
โœ“ AAA Gas Prices

Avg Rent (All)

$1,991

National: $1,932

โ†‘ 14.8%since 2021
โœ“ Zillow ZORI Tampa, FL metro (2026-09)

Grocery Inflation

1.77%

Year-over-year

โœ“ BLS/FRED CPI

Fast Food Avg

$13.50

Combo meal

โ†‘ 4.8%YoY

Electricity

14.99ยข

per kWh ยท ~$135/mo

โ†“ 18.7%vs US avg
โœ“ EIA Residential

Car Insurance

$265/mo

$3,180/yr

โ†‘ 47.9%vs national avg
โœ“ Bankrate/NAIC

Median Household Income

$75,011

48.6% goes to essentials

โ†“ 48.6%cost burden
โœ“ Census ACS 2023
๐Ÿš—

Car Insurance

Avg $3,180 in Tampa. Compare rates:

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Find Apartments

Avg rent $1,991/mo in Tampa. Browse listings:

Browse listings โ†’Verified listings

Grocery Prices

Grocery Prices โ€” 2000 to Present

National BLS averages ยท submit local prices below โ†“

Eggs (dozen)

Avian flu volatility

$0.97 in 2000 โ†’ $2.32 BLS avg

+137.9%

Milk (gallon)

$2.79 in 2000 โ†’ $4.10 BLS avg

+47.3%

Bread (loaf)

$0.91 in 2000 โ†’ $1.86 BLS avg

+105.2%

Ground Beef (lb)

$1.48 in 2000 โ†’ $6.75 BLS avg

+355.5%

Chicken Breast (lb)

$1.06 in 2000 โ†’ $2.03 BLS avg

+91.3%

Bacon (lb)

$2.75 in 2000 โ†’ $6.69 BLS avg

+143.1%

Cheddar Cheese (lb)

$3.84 in 2000 โ†’ $6.13 BLS avg

+59.6%

Pasta (lb)

$0.88 in 2000 โ†’ $1.38 BLS avg

+57.1%

Rice (5 lb)

$2.50 in 2000 โ†’ $5.50 BLS avg

+120.6%

Coffee (12 oz)

$2.65 in 2000 โ†’ $6.94 BLS avg

+161.3%

Orange Juice (64 oz)

Citrus shortage

$5.42 estimate

+45.7% since 2022

Potatoes (5 lb)

$1.96 in 2000 โ†’ $4.95 BLS avg

+152.6%

Apples (3 lb)

$5.20 estimate

+15.8% since 2022

Tomatoes (lb)

$1.44 in 2000 โ†’ $2.08 BLS avg

+44.4%

Lettuce (head)

$0.75 in 2000 โ†’ $1.96 BLS avg

+162.3%

Cooking Oil (48 oz)

$7.76 estimate

+40.1% since 2022

Yogurt (32 oz)

$4.94 estimate

+19.0% since 2022

Cereal (family size)

$6.20 estimate

+29.4% since 2022

Frozen Pizza

$8.65 estimate

+37.1% since 2022

Dining & Restaurants

Fast Food Meal

$13.50

Casual Dining

$29.00

Monthly Spend

$460

+4.8% YoY

Chain Restaurant Meal Prices โ€” 2022 vs. Today

Combo meal / typical order for one

McDonald's

2022: $8.44

$13.50

+60.0%

Wendy's

2022: $9.11

$14.58

+60.0%

Chipotle

2022: $9.45

$15.12

+60.0%

Starbucks

2022: $4.64

$5.67

+22.2%

Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.

Looking for an Apartment in Tampa?

Average 1BR: $1,633/mo ยท 2BR: $2,349/mo

Browse Tampa Apartments โ†’

Local Workforce

2024 ยท BLS QCEW

Total Jobs

789k

Median Weekly Pay

$1,447

$75k/yr

Top Sector

Professional & Business Services

Household vs Worker Pay

$75k

household median

Employment by Sector โ€” Tampa

% of local workforce ยท avg weekly wage ยท 5-year growth trend

Professional & Business Services
+12.8% 5yr$1,776/wk
19.0%

~$92k/yr

Trade, Transportation & Utilities
+12.1% 5yr$1,198/wk
18.6%

~$62k/yr

Education & Health Services
+21.2% 5yr$1,327/wk
15.3%

~$69k/yr

Financial Activities
+16.8% 5yr$2,151/wk
11.0%

~$112k/yr

Leisure & Hospitality
+2.7% 5yr$726/wk
10.4%

~$38k/yr

Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual ยท County FIPS 12057

Highest Paying Sector

Financial Activities

$2,151/wk ยท $112k/yr

Most Workers (lowest wage)

Leisure & Hospitality

$726/wk ยท $38k/yr

Tampa Cost of Living FAQ

Is Tampa, FL expensive to live in?

Tampa has a cost of living index of 100, where 100 is the US average, so it is close to average. It is the 9th most affordable of the 25 Florida cities we track.

What is the average rent in Tampa, FL?

Typical rent in Tampa is $1,991 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 3% above the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,633 and two bedrooms about $2,349. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.

Is rent going up in Tampa?

Rent in Tampa rose 0.5% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.

How much is gas in Tampa?

Regular unleaded costs about $3.77 a gallon in Tampa as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Florida. That is 5% below the national average of $3.98.

How much is electricity in Tampa?

Homes in Florida pay an average of 15.0 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Tampa is about $135.

How much is car insurance in Tampa?

Full coverage car insurance averages $3,180 a year in Florida, or about $265 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.

How much do you need to live in Tampa?

Median household income in the Tampa area is $75,011 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $36,454 a year, or 49% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).

How does Tampa compare with the rest of Florida?

Rent in Tampa is 3% above the $1,929 average across the 25 Florida cities we track, and its cost of living index of 100 compares with a state average of 102.

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