City comparison
Boston vs Tampa Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and Tampa (109.3).
Boston Index
144.3
Tampa Index
109.3
Boston Rent
$3,775
Tampa Rent
$2,350
Boston Home price
$722,000
Tampa Home price
$422,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Tampa.
Equivalent salary in Tampa
$90,894
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and Tampa.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | Tampa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 127 | -71.0 (-35.9%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 100 | -22.0 (-18.0%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 99 | -15.0 (-13.2%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 99 | -14.0 (-12.4%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | -2.0 (-1.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 100 | -21.0 (-17.4%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $4,930
Boston / Tampa
Couple
$11,270 / $8,180
Boston / Tampa
Family
$15,890 / $11,540
Boston / Tampa
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View Tampa city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Tampa.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.