Baltimore-Columbia-Towson vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$10,392
Rent (2BR) -$22,284
Net Income $37,324

To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:

$70,513

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson 116.8
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson $31,943
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

To match your lifestyle in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, you'd need:

$69,483

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,711 more per year in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compared to Baltimore-Columbia-Towson. You'd pay $3,151 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 6% more. The cost of living in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson is 17% above avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Baltimore-Columbia-Towson the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson feels like earning $70,513 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($20,839 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
655
589
Enrollment
404,712
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
5.4%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
45
41
In-State Tuition
$20,839
$15,250
Out-of-State
$25,544
$16,986
Grad Rate
55.3%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baltimore-Columbia-Towson or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 116.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?

You would need to earn approximately $70,513 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,284 in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 6% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.