Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater vs Tucson

Cost of Living Comparison

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

To match your lifestyle in Tucson, you'd need:

$53,136

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Tucson 97.9
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619
Tucson $45,503

Tucson

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$8,626
Rent (2BR) -$16,824
Net Income $44,550

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

$91,976

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $5,515 more per year in Tucson compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $1,385 more in taxes in Tucson, while housing costs 29% less. The cost of living in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, while Tucson is 2% below avg, making Tucson the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater feels like earning $53,136 in Tucson once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tucson has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tucson ($15,250 vs $9,264 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Tucson
Schools
589
370
Enrollment
415,023
141,445
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
15.1%
22.5%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Tucson
Institutions
41
16
In-State Tuition
$15,250
$9,264
Out-of-State
$16,986
$16,970
Grad Rate
60.2%
63.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 97.9 (national average = 100).

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

You would need to earn approximately $53,136 in Tucson to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

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

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and $16,824 in Tucson—housing is 29% less in Tucson.