Boston-Cambridge-Quincy vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$35,292
Net Income $27,467

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

$50,697

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy 148.2
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy $18,528
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 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, you'd need:

$94,881

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $11,568 more per year in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compared to Boston-Cambridge-Quincy. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 33% less. The cost of living in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy is 48% above avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy feels like earning $50,697 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 ($31,757 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
1,212
589
Enrollment
654,483
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
4.7%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
95
41
In-State Tuition
$31,757
$15,250
Out-of-State
$34,142
$16,986
Grad Rate
63.1%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston-Cambridge-Quincy or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy is more expensive with a cost of living index of 148.2 vs 123.5 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy?

You would need to earn approximately $50,697 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $35,292 in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 33% less in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.