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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,983 per month in Tampa, FL vs $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,421 per month in Tampa, FL vs $3,822 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,859 per month in Tampa, FL vs $4,913 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

Tampa, FL costs about 9% more than Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tampa, FL and Bethlehem, PA sit above the global median – Tampa, FL by 123%, Bethlehem, PA by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.95 $19.95

$18.31 $18.31

8.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$51.0 $51.0

58.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$12.89 $12.89

-6.13%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$4.87 $4.87

0.62%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.08 $3.08

-11.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.98 $1.98

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$5.26 $5.26

35.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.12 $8.12

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.04 $1.04

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.96 $3.96

1.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$4.29 $4.29

23.31%

Eggs

$4.40 $4.40

$4.26 $4.26

3.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.90 $11.90

33.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 $11.58

$16.82 $16.82

-31.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.93 $15.93

$21.64 $21.64

-26.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$11.64 $11.64

-46.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.28 $1.28

41.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.40 $4.40

-1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$7.40 $7.40

-35.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$5.39 $5.39

-34.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.75 $2.75

29.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.79 $2.79

-11.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.83 $1.83

34.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.06 $8.06

$10.14 $10.14

-20.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.16 $16.16

-6.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.21 $4.21

-39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.10 $5.10

-31.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.1 $66.1

$59.4 $59.4

11.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.43 $3.43

-27.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.60 $1.60

-5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$29.68 $29.68

-0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.95 $0.95

-4.21%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$30.0K $30.0K

11.45%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.5K $25.5K

4.16%

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

$233 $233

$230 $230

1.41%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$64.9 $64.9

7.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 $70.0

$61.9 $61.9

13.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.54 $37.54

$36.76 $36.76

2.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.22 $13.22

Cinema Ticket

$15.96 $15.96

$15.02 $15.02

6.26%

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

$1,281 $1,281

$1,004 $1,004

27.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K $13.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

-41.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$55.3 $55.3

2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.01 $37.01

$29.92 $29.92

23.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$66.5 $66.5

45.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$78.8 $78.8

72.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,006 $2,006

$1,486 $1,486

35.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,524 $1,524

$1,317 $1,317

15.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,613 $3,613

$2,125 $2,125

70.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,691 $2,691

$2,005 $2,005

34.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,027 $5,027

$2,144 $2,144

134.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 $2,264

$2,127 $2,127

6.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,498 $4,498

$3,585 $3,585

25.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.62

-2.11%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,006 in Tampa, FL versus $1,486 in Bethlehem, PA. 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 25% 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 $81.0 in Tampa, FL versus $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries tell a different story – $435 in Tampa, FL vs $508 in Bethlehem, PA – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,983 in Tampa, FL, $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA – roughly 9% apart. Tampa, FL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,475 per month in Tampa, FL and $4,096 in Bethlehem, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Tampa, FL and $51.0 in Bethlehem, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,983 in Tampa, FL and $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,983 in Tampa, FL and $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Bethlehem, PA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,730 in Bethlehem, PA to $2,983 in Tampa, FL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Bethlehem, 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.