Seattle-Bellevue vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Seattle-Bellevue

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$30,012
Net Income $32,747

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

$55,017

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Seattle-Bellevue 151.6
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Seattle-Bellevue $21,607
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 Seattle-Bellevue, you'd need:

$89,454

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $6,288 more per year in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compared to Seattle-Bellevue. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 21% less. The cost of living in Seattle-Bellevue is 52% 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 Seattle-Bellevue feels like earning $55,017 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 ($16,908 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Seattle-Bellevue
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
1,005
589
Enrollment
543,126
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
0.5%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Seattle-Bellevue
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
47
41
In-State Tuition
$16,908
$15,250
Out-of-State
$20,883
$16,986
Grad Rate
53.7%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seattle-Bellevue or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Seattle-Bellevue is more expensive with a cost of living index of 151.6 vs 123.5 (national average = 100).

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

You would need to earn approximately $55,017 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Seattle-Bellevue, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

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

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $30,012 in Seattle-Bellevue and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 21% less in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.