Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Tampa, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Tampa, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,638 in Newport News, VA versus $3,025 in Tampa, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,014 in Newport News, VA versus $4,406 in Tampa, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,390 in Newport News, VA versus $5,786 in Tampa, FL.

Living in Newport News, VA costs roughly 13% less than in Tampa, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newport News, VA 97% above, Tampa, FL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.59 $27.59

$20.38 $20.38

35.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 $62.6

$79.6 $79.6

-21.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 $10.43

$12.13 $12.13

-14.01%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.07 $5.07

15.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.76 $2.76

9.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.05 $2.05

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$7.09 $7.09

-30.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.58 $7.58

$8.08 $8.08

-6.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.27 $1.27

-16.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.96 $3.96

-4.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$5.05 $5.05

-43.37%

Eggs

$2.87 $2.87

$4.33 $4.33

-33.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 $9.29

$16.07 $16.07

-42.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.70 $11.70

29.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.32 $19.32

$15.89 $15.89

21.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$6.39 $6.39

-1.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.82 $1.82

-43.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.22 $4.22

20.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.77 $4.77

-12.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.58 $3.58

-24.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.66 $3.66

-13.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.39 $2.39

-13.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.10 $8.10

$7.78 $7.78

4.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.07 $16.07

$14.90 $14.90

7.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.43 $2.43

-26.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.49 $3.49

31.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.05 $2.05

24.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 $55.9

$67.0 $67.0

-16.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.01 $4.01

$2.45 $2.45

63.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.51 $1.51

-11.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 $29.55

$29.63 $29.63

-0.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.93 $0.93

-12.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K $29.7K

$34.5K $34.5K

-14.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.3K $27.3K

-5.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$208 $208

$235 $235

-11.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$69.1 $69.1

-13.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$69.3 $69.3

-3.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.41 $40.41

$37.71 $37.71

7.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.81 $12.81

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 $13.76

$15.86 $15.86

-13.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,637 $2,637

$1,289 $1,289

104.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K $40.7K

$13.8K $13.8K

196.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.75 $42.75

$56.7 $56.7

-24.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$36.31 $36.31

39.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.6 $95.6

8.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$135 $135

-22.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,410 $1,410

$2,075 $2,075

-32.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 $1,227

$1,545 $1,545

-20.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,300 $2,300

$3,663 $3,663

-37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,255 $2,255

$2,729 $2,729

-17.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 $2,274

$5,276 $5,276

-56.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,269 $2,269

$2,255 $2,255

0.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,893 $3,893

$4,446 $4,446

-12.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.48

-0.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Newport News, VA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tampa, FL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,410 in Newport News, VA and $2,075 in Tampa, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tampa, FL pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Newport News, VA vs $80.0 in Tampa, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $435 per month, with Newport News, VA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Newport News, VA vs Tampa, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News, VA and Tampa, FL differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,638 vs $3,025 including rent). Newport News, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Tampa, FL earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,410 in Newport News, VA versus $2,075 in Tampa, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,638 per month in Newport News, VA versus $3,025 in Tampa, FL – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newport News, VA runs roughly 20% less than in Tampa, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,638 in Newport News, VA versus $3,025 in Tampa, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Newport News, VA but tight or insufficient in Tampa, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Newport News, VA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Newport News, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Tampa, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.