Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Newport News, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Tampa, FL and Newport News, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,109 in Tampa, FL versus $2,721 in Newport News, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,547 in Tampa, FL versus $3,833 in Newport News, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,985 in Tampa, FL versus $4,945 in Newport News, VA.

Living in Tampa, FL is roughly 14% more expensive than in Newport News, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tampa, FL 126% above, Newport News, VA 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$28.40 $28.40

-29.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$60.5 $60.5

25.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$10.49 $10.49

13.54%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$6.18 $6.18

-3.24%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.65 $2.65

26.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.96 $1.96

29.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$8.04 $8.04

-13.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 $9.11

$7.97 $7.97

14.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.95 $0.95

27.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.71 $3.71

1.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.42 $3.42

42.98%

Eggs

$3.55 $3.55

$2.98 $2.98

19.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 $13.91

$7.64 $7.64

82.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$11.07 $11.07

-0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.67 $20.67

$19.06 $19.06

8.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$6.85 $6.85

-19.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.02 $1.02

80.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.87 $4.87

-30.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$4.07 $4.07

-4.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.69 $2.69

-4.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$3.29 $3.29

-9.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.09 $2.09

12.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.70 $2.70

-10.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.06 $8.06

10.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.78 $15.78

-3.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$1.71 $1.71

54.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.56 $5.56

-1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.94 $2.94

-33.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 $65.3

$40.51 $40.51

61.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.98 $3.98

-36.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.27 $1.27

21.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.89 $19.89

$24.55 $24.55

-18.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.94 $0.94

8.51%

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

$37.9K $37.9K

$36.2K $36.2K

4.68%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

5.06%

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

$207 $207

$202 $202

2.03%

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

$70.5 $70.5

$80.4 $80.4

-12.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.1 $75.1

$77.1 $77.1

-2.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.45 $48.45

$40.42 $40.42

19.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.97 $20.97

Cinema Ticket

$16.56 $16.56

$13.51 $13.51

22.58%

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

$1,426 $1,426

$3,255 $3,255

-56.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$41.2K $41.2K

-45.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$54.3 $54.3

2.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.47 $44.47

$44.58 $44.58

-0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$101 $101

-11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$136 $136

-9.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,427 $1,427

63.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,668 $1,668

$1,283 $1,283

30.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,863 $3,863

$2,334 $2,334

65.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,939 $2,939

$1,821 $1,821

61.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,460 $5,460

$2,271 $2,271

140.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 $2,192

$2,308 $2,308

-4.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$3,905 $3,905

30.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

6.23

-2.73%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: August 31, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,329 in Tampa, FL and $1,427 in Newport News, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tampa, FL pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Tampa, FL vs $61.0 in Newport News, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $394 per month, with Newport News, VA cheaper across the board.

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 Newport News, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tampa, FL and Newport News, VA differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($3,109 vs $2,721 including rent). Newport News, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Tampa, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,329 in Tampa, FL versus $1,427 in Newport News, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,109 per month in Tampa, FL versus $2,721 in Newport News, VA – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Newport News, VA runs roughly 61% less than in Tampa, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Newport News, VA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Newport News, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Tampa, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.