San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,953
Rent (2BR) -$41,796
Net Income $18,251

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

$36,727

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 213.0
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara $8,570
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, you'd need:

$142,165

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $20,784 more per year in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compared to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. You'd pay $2,712 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 43% less. The cost of living in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is 113% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara feels like earning $36,727 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($14,833 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
396
589
Enrollment
282,880
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
5%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
25
41
In-State Tuition
$14,833
$15,250
Out-of-State
$20,736
$16,986
Grad Rate
60.9%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is more expensive with a cost of living index of 213.0 vs 123.5 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?

You would need to earn approximately $36,727 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $41,796 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 43% less in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.