City comparison
San Diego vs Tampa Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Tampa (109.3).
San Diego Index
141.4
Tampa Index
109.3
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Tampa Rent
$2,350
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Tampa Home price
$422,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Tampa.
Equivalent salary in Tampa
$90,439
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Tampa.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Tampa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 127 | -67.0 (-34.5%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 100 | -22.0 (-18.0%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 99 | -10.0 (-9.2%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 99 | -11.0 (-10.0%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 104 | -4.0 (-3.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 100 | -18.0 (-15.3%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $4,930
San Diego / Tampa
Couple
$11,040 / $8,180
San Diego / Tampa
Family
$15,560 / $11,540
San Diego / Tampa
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.
