Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Bellingham, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Bellingham, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,149 per month in Tampa, FL vs $2,982 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,581 per month in Tampa, FL vs $4,352 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,014 per month in Tampa, FL vs $5,723 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

Tampa, FL costs about 6% more than Bellingham, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tampa, FL and Bellingham, WA sit above the global median – Tampa, FL by 128%, Bellingham, WA by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$24.60 $24.60

-20.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 $74.7

$78.8 $78.8

-5.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.84 $11.84

$11.83 $11.83

0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.91 $5.91

$5.55 $5.55

6.49%

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

$3.43 $3.43

$3.34 $3.34

2.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.26 $2.26

10.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$7.18 $7.18

-3.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.76 $8.76

$5.99 $5.99

46.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.11 $1.11

12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.74 $3.74

2.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$4.25 $4.25

14.12%

Eggs

$3.44 $3.44

$6.08 $6.08

-43.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.12 $14.12

$15.97 $15.97

-11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.05 $11.05

$13.10 $13.10

-15.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.34 $20.34

$22.94 $22.94

-11.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.36 $4.36

25.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.75 $1.75

5.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.19 $4.19

-18.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$4.59 $4.59

-14.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.78 $2.78

-5.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.91 $2.91

3.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.75 $1.75

38.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$3.08 $3.08

-25.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.11 $9.11

$11.88 $11.88

-23.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$18.18 $18.18

-18.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.77 $1.77

46.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.99 $4.99

10.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.02 $1.02

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 $63.8

$30.26 $30.26

110.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.65 $2.65

-7.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.65 $1.65

-10.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.34 $20.34

$30.15 $30.15

-32.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.29 $1.29

-24.03%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$35.9K $35.9K

2.97%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

6.31%

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

$204 $204

$226 $226

-9.61%

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

$70.7 $70.7

$60.9 $60.9

16.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 $75.4

$76.7 $76.7

-1.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.36 $48.36

$59.2 $59.2

-18.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.95 $20.95

$15.03 $15.03

39.39%

Cinema Ticket

$16.72 $16.72

$18.13 $18.13

-7.78%

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

$1,464 $1,464

$1,139 $1,139

28.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$31.5K $31.5K

-29.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 $56.1

$59.9 $59.9

-6.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.35 $43.35

$28.63 $28.63

51.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 $89.0

$83.8 $83.8

6.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$126 $126

-1.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,286 $2,286

$1,774 $1,774

28.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,647 $1,647

$1,493 $1,493

10.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$2,748 $2,748

41.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,939 $2,939

$2,417 $2,417

21.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,358 $5,358

$4,056 $4,056

32.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,141 $2,141

$4,049 $4,049

-47.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,849 $4,849

$4,249 $4,249

14.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

6.07

-0.16%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bellingham, WA: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,286 in Tampa, FL versus $1,774 in Bellingham, WA. 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 14% 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 $75.0 in Tampa, FL versus $79.0 in Bellingham, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $457 – making Tampa, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Tampa, FL vs Bellingham, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tampa, FL costs about 6% more than Bellingham, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,723 per month in Tampa, FL and $4,473 in Bellingham, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,464 per month in Tampa, FL and $1,139 in Bellingham, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 $3,149 in Tampa, FL and $2,982 in Bellingham, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bellingham, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bellingham, WA. 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.