Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Long Island, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Long Island, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,028 per month in Tampa, FL vs $3,552 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,423 per month in Tampa, FL vs $5,146 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,819 per month in Tampa, FL vs $6,739 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

Tampa, FL is about 15% cheaper than Long Island, NY, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Tampa, FL and Long Island, NY sit above the global median – Tampa, FL by 128%, Long Island, NY by 167%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$19.91 $19.91

-1.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$99.2 $99.2

-19.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.16 $12.16

$13.36 $13.36

-8.98%

Cappuccino

$4.91 $4.91

$4.69 $4.69

4.69%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.45 $2.45

8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.72 $1.72

15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.84 $6.84

$6.83 $6.83

0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.80 $7.80

1.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.20 $1.20

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.72 $3.72

6.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$5.01 $5.01

2.79%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$4.71 $4.71

-3.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 $16.16

$17.37 $17.37

-6.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.70 $11.70

$11.94 $11.94

-2.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$15.63 $15.63

3.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.83 $4.83

32.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.71 $1.71

5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.03 $4.03

5.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.09 $4.09

17.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.74 $2.74

26.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.93 $3.93

-6.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.22 $2.22

5.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.33 $2.33

9.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.95 $7.95

$12.20 $12.20

-34.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.30 $15.30

2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.75 $1.75

45.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.96 $3.96

-14.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.88 $2.88

-29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 $66.6

$129 $129

-48.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.07 $3.07

-17.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.03 $2.03

-24.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$24.37 $24.37

21.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.88 $0.88

3.41%

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

$33.8K $33.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

43.10%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

10.39%

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

$236 $236

$127 $127

85.73%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$45.45 $45.45

54.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$60.6 $60.6

15.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.56 $38.56

$33.68 $33.68

14.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.86 $12.86

Cinema Ticket

$16.25 $16.25

$13.12 $13.12

23.86%

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

$1,297 $1,297

$2,288 $2,288

-43.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K $13.8K

$24.0K $24.0K

-42.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$39.43 $39.43

41.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 $36.44

$63.3 $63.3

-42.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 $94.6

$73.7 $73.7

28.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$130 $130

4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 $2,079

$2,298 $2,298

-9.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 $1,526

$2,224 $2,224

-31.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,601 $3,601

$4,021 $4,021

-10.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,710 $2,710

$3,494 $3,494

-22.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,263 $5,263

$4,249 $4,249

23.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,360 $2,360

$4,271 $4,271

-44.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,741 $4,741

$5,059 $5,059

-6.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.44

0.62%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: July 26, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,079 in Tampa, FL versus $2,298 in Long Island, NY. 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 7% higher in Long Island, NY, 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 $80.0 in Tampa, FL versus $99.0 in Long Island, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Tampa, FL vs $418 in Long Island, NY – so Long Island, NY 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 Long Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,028 in Tampa, FL, $3,552 in Long Island, NY – roughly 17% apart. Long Island, NY costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,542 per month in Tampa, FL and $5,329 in Long Island, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,297 per month in Tampa, FL and $2,288 in Long Island, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Long Island, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,028 in Tampa, FL and $3,552 in Long Island, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Long Island, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,028 in Tampa, FL to $3,552 in Long Island, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Tampa, FL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Long Island, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.