City Comparison

Sandy Springs vs Tampa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sandy Springs

Georgia
135
Expensive
$670,000
Median Home
$1,825/mo
Median Rent
$101,000
Median Income

Tampa

Florida
102
Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$52,594
Median Income

The Verdict

32.4%

Living in Tampa costs 32.4% less than Sandy Springs. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs, you would need $56,667 in Tampa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
223
Sandy Springs
108
Tampa
Groceries
103
Sandy Springs
103
Tampa
Utilities
97
Sandy Springs
96
Tampa
Transportation
111
Sandy Springs
105
Tampa
Healthcare
105
Sandy Springs
97
Tampa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs has the same purchasing power as $56,667 in Tampa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tampa equals $99,265 in Sandy Springs.

Living in Sandy Springs vs Tampa

Housing Costs

Sandy Springs's housing index of 223 is higher Tampa's 108, translating to median home prices of $670,000 vs $340,000. The $330,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,825/mo in Sandy Springs compared to $1,700/mo in Tampa, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Sandy Springs and 103 in Tampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Sandy Springs vs $489/month in Tampa. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Sandy Springs and 96 in Tampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Sandy Springs vs $384 in Tampa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Sandy Springs and 97 in Tampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $101,000 in Sandy Springs and $52,594 in Tampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,815 and $51,563 respectively. Sandy Springs residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,357/month to housing in Sandy Springs vs $1,227/month in Tampa. In Sandy Springs, median rent of $1,825/mo fits within this budget. In Tampa, median rent of $1,700/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 115 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tampa is 32.4% more affordable overall with an index of 102 vs 135.
A $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $56,667 in Tampa, based on the cost of living difference.
Sandy Springs's housing index is 223 with median homes at $670,000, while Tampa's is 108 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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