Cost of Living Comparison Between Pittsburgh, PA and Tampa, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Pittsburgh, PA and Tampa, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,563 per month in Pittsburgh, PA vs $3,109 in Tampa, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,644 per month in Pittsburgh, PA vs $4,547 in Tampa, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,725 per month in Pittsburgh, PA vs $5,985 in Tampa, FL, rent included.

Pittsburgh, PA is about 18% cheaper than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pittsburgh, PA and Tampa, FL sit above the global median – Pittsburgh, PA by 87%, Tampa, FL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.73 $19.73

$20.08 $20.08

-1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 $60.0

$76.1 $76.1

-21.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$11.91 $11.91

-14.69%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$5.98 $5.98

-19.06%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$3.35 $3.35

-21.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.54 $2.54

-14.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.49 $6.49

$6.98 $6.98

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$9.11 $9.11

-14.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.21 $1.21

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.75 $3.75

2.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.89 $4.89

3.07%

Eggs

$4.88 $4.88

$3.55 $3.55

37.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.57 $14.57

$13.91 $13.91

4.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.63 $12.63

$10.96 $10.96

15.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

$20.67 $20.67

-13.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.51 $5.51

-6.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.84 $1.84

-19.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.39 $3.39

17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.87 $3.87

44.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.56 $2.56

-7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.99 $2.99

-16.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.36 $2.36

-2.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.41 $2.41

-14.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.02 $11.02

$8.89 $8.89

23.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 $13.17

$15.19 $15.19

-13.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.64 $2.64

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 $3.99

$5.49 $5.49

-27.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.95 $1.95

38.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$65.3 $65.3

54.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.52 $2.52

57.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.89 $20.89

$19.89 $19.89

5.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.02 $1.02

1.96%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$37.9K $37.9K

-2.29%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.5K $27.5K

-5.71%

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

$252 $252

$207 $207

22.07%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$70.5 $70.5

-25.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 $69.6

$75.1 $75.1

-7.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.19 $44.19

$48.45 $48.45

-8.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.56 $28.56

$20.97 $20.97

36.19%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 $12.47

$16.56 $16.56

-24.70%

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

$1,775 $1,775

$1,426 $1,426

24.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.4K $34.4K

$22.3K $22.3K

54.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.61 $45.61

$55.7 $55.7

-18.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.21 $47.21

$44.47 $44.47

6.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 $74.8

$89.7 $89.7

-16.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$124 $124

-16.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,554 $1,554

$2,329 $2,329

-33.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 $1,108

$1,668 $1,668

-33.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 $2,528

$3,863 $3,863

-34.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 $1,732

$2,939 $2,939

-41.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 $3,210

$5,460 $5,460

-41.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,056 $2,056

$2,192 $2,192

-6.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,248 $4,248

$5,105 $5,105

-16.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.06

2.15%

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

Last update for Pittsburgh, PA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tampa, FL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,554 in Pittsburgh, PA versus $2,329 in Tampa, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Tampa, FL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Pittsburgh, PA versus $76.0 in Tampa, FL. Groceries tell a different story – $421 in Pittsburgh, PA vs $420 in Tampa, FL – so Tampa, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Pittsburgh, PA vs Tampa, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tampa, FL costs about 21% more than Pittsburgh, PA, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,845 per month in Pittsburgh, PA and $4,664 in Tampa, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pittsburgh, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,775 per month in Pittsburgh, PA and $1,426 in Tampa, FL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Tampa, FL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,563 in Pittsburgh, PA and $3,109 in Tampa, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pittsburgh, PA costs $2,563 versus $3,109 in Tampa, FL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Pittsburgh, PA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tampa, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.