Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$20,232
Net Income $42,527

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

$89,309

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 97.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $43,818
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, you'd need:

$55,608

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $3,492 more per year in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 17% more. The cost of living in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia is 3% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia feels like earning $89,309 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 ($17,529 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
587
589
Enrollment
415,464
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
7.4%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
34
41
In-State Tuition
$17,529
$15,250
Out-of-State
$20,419
$16,986
Grad Rate
49.0%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 97.1 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?

You would need to earn approximately $89,309 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $20,232 in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 17% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.