Rochester vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Cost of Living Comparison
Rochester
To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:
$88,120
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
To match your lifestyle in Rochester, you'd need:
$55,906
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,603 more per year in Rochester compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $3,245 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 26% more. The cost of living in Rochester is 6% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Rochester the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Rochester feels like earning $88,120 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 ($24,813 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rochester or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 94.4 (national average = 100).
What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Rochester?
You would need to earn approximately $88,120 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Rochester, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in Rochester vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $18,876 in Rochester and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 26% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.