The Cost Of Living Diaries: Tampa, Florida
How much does it cost to live in Tampa? We asked a local to give us ALL the details.
Tampa is consistently one of the most popular cities featured on Livability. A beautiful, welcoming, rapidly growing city that was recently named one of our Top 100 Best Places to Live in America, there are tons of reasons why so many people want to know more about living in Tampa. So, how much does it really cost to live there? We asked a local to give us the scoop on everything from rent to lattes to free ways to have fun.
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, Florida’s third largest city anchors a sprawling metro area famous for seaside towns with award-winning beaches and cultural enclaves like Ybor City, founded over 100 years ago by Cuban immigrants.
It’s easy to fall in love with Tampa. It’s a great place for scenic views, Latin cuisine, roller coasters and sunshine. Having the Gulf Coast in your backyard is just a bonus.
As a local, I’ve seen it grow dramatically over the last few years as more and more people decide to call Tampa home. Here’s how much it costs to live in this little slice of paradise.
Cheryl Rodewig
Tampa, FL
Full-time marketer, part-time travel writer
How long have you lived in Tampa, and what brought you here?
I’ve lived in Tampa for four years. My husband and I relocated here via a last-minute flight out of Paris during the pandemic. We originally planned to spend a few months in Europe, but then COVID happened, and we had to hightail it back to the States. We’ve always wanted to try Florida, and we picked Tampa Bay because of its affordability and amenities.
Tampa is classic Florida. You’ve got a little bit of kitsch, beaches nearby and even a theme park. People are friendly and come here from all over the world, so there’s lots of cultural diversity. It’s also one of the largest metro areas in the U.S., over 3 million strong, but the vibe is much more laid-back than, say, Miami, whose metro region is around double the size.
Rent has gone up quite a bit since 2020 as so many people from out of state have relocated here. Our one-bedroom apartment with a washer and dryer is renewing for $1,680 per month this year (plus a $40 valet trash fee), and that’s pretty typical for the city and close suburbs. You can get apartments for less, even under $1,500 if you’re not picky, but they also go up much more if you want prime real estate, like being right off the Riverwalk, where a one-bedroom starts at $1,944.
As a big city, Tampa has most of the major grocery stores: Publix, Whole Foods, Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Costco, Aldi and Publix. And yes, I meant to list Publix twice. The grocery chain is something of a Florida institution, and there are 20 stores in Tampa alone. (You’re not a real Floridian unless you’ve had a “Pub sub.”) Our grocery bill for two adults is usually just under $400, but that’s with the bulk of our shopping at lower prices than those of Publix.
Tampa is great for families. It has good schools, a reasonably low crime rate and plenty of childcare options available. When it comes to entertainment, there are all family-friendly attractions you’d enjoy on vacation, plus parks galore, including a new 10,000-square-foot accessible and sensory-friendly playground.
Going out for dinner varies, but $100 should cover most couples, including gratuity. I recommend On Swann in Hyde Park Village for their shareable boards and entrees like squash ravioli with candied pecans. Off the Riverwalk, there’s the Native-inspired cuisine of Ulele, which has an on-site brewery and a really amazing lawn.
When you really want to get fancy, stop by Bern’s Steak House for an expensive but incredibly memorable evening with a sweet finish in their upstairs dessert parlor. Or visit Florida’s oldest restaurant, Columbia Restaurant, where you can watch a flamenco show after dinner
For vibe, Elevation Coffee Heights and Felicitous are two of the best. The former has plenty of room and even a few board games, while the latter skews toward the college crowd and is decked out like your friend’s cozy bungalow.
If the weather’s nice, head to Spaddy’s Coffee Co., a food truck serving excellent espresso and creative seasonal drinks. Slide into a picnic table seat and enjoy the smell of fresh Cuban bread wafting through the air from the bakery next door.
We don’t have beaches. It’s important to set expectations. You’ll be driving around 30 minutes west to St. Pete or Clearwater if you want sand and surf. But Tampa is a really cool city with lots of culture — think museums, murals everywhere and a performing arts center that brings in big acts. And we’ve got fabulous food, especially Cuban food, which you’ll find rooted in historic Ybor City but also on menus at dozens of restaurants around town.
Stroll the Riverwalk. Tour the Florida Botanical Gardens in nearby Largo. In winter, visit the Manatee Viewing Center just south of Tampa to see flocks of adorable sea cows. If you’re a resident, you can check out a Discovery Pass from the library for admission to the Tampa Bay History Center (a Smithsonian affiliate), the children’s museum, a fully operational World War II ship and more.
None of the above will cost you a dime, but if you’ve got a few dollars, you might go swimming in Lithia Springs or shopping at one of the many area farmers markets. Most state and county parks also charge only a nominal admission fee per vehicle and are a great way to soak up that Florida sunshine.
Tampa has some nice walkable areas. For starters, the 2.6-mile Riverwalk and trendy mixed-use developments like Hyde Park Village, Water Street and Midtown Tampa are very pedestrian-friendly.
In general, you’ll need a car to get to most places in Tampa, but the transit authority operates several buses throughout the region, including to the ports and the airport. One cool perk is the completely free TECO Line Streetcar, running every 15-20 minutes daily to connect Ybor City with downtown.
The weather here is everything you want from a subtropical paradise. It rains heavily in the summer but seldom all day, and winters are mild with just the occasional need to don a sweater in a pleasant fallish way. It’s also a near-perfect location. There are adorable communities all around here, like artsy DunedIn or Treasure Island, which hosts an annual sand-sculpting competition. And you’re not too far from Orlando for your Disney fix or Cape Canaveral if you want to watch a rocket launch.