Richmond vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Richmond

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$10,549
Rent (2BR) -$19,860
Net Income $39,592

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

$81,971

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Richmond 101.0
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Richmond $39,182
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 Richmond, you'd need:

$59,705

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $557 more per year in Richmond compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $3,308 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 19% more. The cost of living in Richmond is 1% above avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Richmond the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Richmond feels like earning $81,971 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 ($16,193 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Richmond
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
296
589
Enrollment
195,240
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
0.7%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Richmond
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
24
41
In-State Tuition
$16,193
$15,250
Out-of-State
$19,529
$16,986
Grad Rate
46.5%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Richmond or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 101.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Richmond?

You would need to earn approximately $81,971 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Richmond, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Richmond vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $19,860 in Richmond and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 19% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.