City comparison
Houston vs Tampa Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Houston (105.8) and Tampa (109.3).
Houston Index
105.8
Tampa Index
109.3
Houston Rent
$2,175
Tampa Rent
$2,350
Houston Home price
$390,000
Tampa Home price
$422,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Houston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Tampa.
Equivalent salary in Tampa
$86,779
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Houston and Tampa.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Houston | Tampa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 118 | 127 | +9.0 (+7.6%) |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | +3.0 (+3.1%) |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | -5.0 (-4.8%) |
| Healthcare | 96 | 99 | +3.0 (+3.1%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 104 | +3.0 (+3.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 99 | 100 | +1.0 (+1.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$4,740 / $4,930
Houston / Tampa
Couple
$7,870 / $8,180
Houston / Tampa
Family
$11,090 / $11,540
Houston / Tampa
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Houston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Houston.
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.