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 $2,978 per month in Tampa, FL vs $2,794 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,368 per month in Tampa, FL vs $4,183 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,758 per month in Tampa, FL vs $5,572 in Bellingham, WA, rent included.

Tampa, FL costs about 7% more than Bellingham, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Tampa, FL and Bellingham, WA sit above the global median – Tampa, FL by 122%, Bellingham, WA by 109%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.75 $19.75

$20.12 $20.12

-1.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 $80.4

$86.5 $86.5

-7.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.20 $12.20

$13.16 $13.16

-7.29%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.20 $5.20

-2.50%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.53 $2.53

7.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.21 $7.21

$7.01 $7.01

2.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 $7.79

$5.88 $5.88

32.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.00 $1.00

22.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.66 $3.66

10.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$4.23 $4.23

25.77%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.34 $4.34

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.83 $15.83

$17.09 $17.09

-7.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.66 $11.66

$15.77 $15.77

-26.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$15.20 $15.20

3.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$5.79 $5.79

12.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.56 $1.56

14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.27 $4.27

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.22 $5.22

-7.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.93 $2.93

24.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.19 $2.19

61.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.09 $2.09

14.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.53 $2.53

0.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.15 $8.15

$12.44 $12.44

-34.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.94 $14.94

$15.27 $15.27

-2.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.76 $1.76

45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.79 $4.79

-27.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.98 $0.98

101.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.1 $67.1

$30.34 $30.34

121.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$9.90 $9.90

-75.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.72 $1.72

-11.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.59 $29.59

$53.1 $53.1

-44.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.16 $1.16

-19.83%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$34.4K $34.4K

-1.13%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

4.46%

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

$231 $231

$180 $180

28.32%

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

$69.7 $69.7

$52.3 $52.3

33.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 $69.6

$74.8 $74.8

-6.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 $37.91

$68.1 $68.1

-44.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.91 $12.91

Cinema Ticket

$16.25 $16.25

$18.35 $18.35

-11.44%

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

$1,312 $1,312

$1,445 $1,445

-9.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$23.8K $23.8K

-40.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$52.2 $52.2

7.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.69 $36.69

$27.95 $27.95

31.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$96.7 $96.7

0.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$149 $149

-6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 $2,037

$1,697 $1,697

20.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,540 $1,540

$1,441 $1,441

6.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,590 $3,590

$2,732 $2,732

31.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,703 $2,703

$2,448 $2,448

10.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,136 $5,136

$3,994 $3,994

28.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 $2,272

$4,075 $4,075

-44.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,385 $4,385

$4,156 $4,156

5.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.61

-1.97%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bellingham, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,037 in Tampa, FL versus $1,697 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 6% 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 $80 in Tampa, FL versus $87 in Bellingham, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 vs $439 – 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 7% more than Bellingham, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,467 per month in Tampa, FL and $4,191 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 $1,312 per month in Tampa, FL and $1,445 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 1% 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 $2,978 in Tampa, FL and $2,794 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.