Arlington vs Tampa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Arlington
Tampa
💡 The Verdict
Tampa is 2% cheaper than Arlington overall. A $75,000 salary in Arlington is equivalent to $73,558 in Tampa.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Arlington (left) vs Tampa (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Arlington versus Tampa. Differences shown from Arlington perspective.
| Item | Arlington | Tampa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,100/mo | $1,210/mo | $-110.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,430/mo | $1,700/mo | $-270.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,880/mo | $2,230/mo | $-350.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.35 | $2.84 | $-0.49 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.19 | $4.00 | $-0.81 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.08 | $3.89 | $-0.81 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.05 | $6.15 | $-1.10 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.44 | $3.34 | +$0.10 |
| Restaurant Meal | $17.81 | $18.85 | $-1.04 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Arlington has the same purchasing power as $73,558 in Tampa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tampa equals $76,471 in Arlington.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $3751 difference is driven by Virginia having a higher state income tax rate. Virginia details → · Florida details →
Reading These Numbers: Arlington (104) vs Tampa (102)
Arlington at 104 is 4% above the US average, while Tampa at 102 is 2% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Arlington, the composite index of 104 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 105, followed by groceries (89), utilities (110), transportation (107), and healthcare (98). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,430/mo in Arlington and $1,700/mo in Tampa, the annual rent difference is approximately $3,240.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $16,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $9,000.0 difference in median home prices between Arlington and Tampa translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Arlington vs Tampa
Choosing between Arlington and Tampa involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Arlington and Tampa reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.