Columbus vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Cost of Living Comparison
Columbus
To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:
$100,617
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
To match your lifestyle in Columbus, you'd need:
$49,268
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $5,355 more per year in Columbus compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $1,209 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 38% more. The cost of living in Columbus is 13% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Columbus the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Columbus feels like earning $100,617 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 ($21,301 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 87.1 (national average = 100).
What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Columbus?
You would need to earn approximately $100,617 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Columbus, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Columbus vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $17,160 in Columbus and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 38% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.