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: $3,025 in Tampa, FL versus $2,638 in Newport News, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,406 in Tampa, FL versus $4,014 in Newport News, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,786 in Tampa, FL versus $5,390 in Newport News, VA.

Living in Tampa, FL is roughly 15% more expensive than Newport News, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tampa, FL 126% above, Newport News, VA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.38 $20.38

$27.59 $27.59

-26.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$62.6 $62.6

27.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.13 $12.13

$10.43 $10.43

16.30%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.84 $5.84

-13.18%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$3.01 $3.01

-8.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.25 $2.25

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$4.93 $4.93

43.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.58 $7.58

6.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.06 $1.06

19.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.80 $3.80

4.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.86 $2.86

76.57%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$2.87 $2.87

50.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.07 $16.07

$9.29 $9.29

72.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.70 $11.70

$15.19 $15.19

-22.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 $15.89

$19.32 $19.32

-17.75%

Apples (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$6.30 $6.30

1.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.02 $1.02

78.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$5.09 $5.09

-17.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.18 $4.18

14.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.69 $2.69

33.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.16 $3.16

15.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.07 $2.07

15.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.78 $7.78

$8.10 $8.10

-3.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$16.07 $16.07

-7.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.78 $1.78

36.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.60 $4.60

-24.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.56 $2.56

-19.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.0 $67.0

$55.9 $55.9

19.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$4.01 $4.01

-38.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.33 $1.33

13.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.63 $29.63

$29.55 $29.55

0.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.81 $0.81

14.81%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.7K $29.7K

16.41%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

6.26%

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

$235 $235

$208 $208

13.01%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$59.5 $59.5

16.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$66.9 $66.9

3.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.71 $37.71

$40.41 $40.41

-6.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.81 $12.81

Cinema Ticket

$15.86 $15.86

$13.76 $13.76

15.26%

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

$1,289 $1,289

$2,637 $2,637

-51.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K $13.8K

$40.7K $40.7K

-66.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$42.75 $42.75

32.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.31 $36.31

$50.8 $50.8

-28.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$104 $104

-8.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$105 $105

28.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 $2,075

$1,410 $1,410

47.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,545 $1,545

$1,227 $1,227

25.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,663 $3,663

$2,300 $2,300

59.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,729 $2,729

$2,255 $2,255

20.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,276 $5,276

$2,274 $2,274

132.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,255 $2,255

$2,269 $2,269

-0.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,446 $4,446

$3,893 $3,893

14.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.45

0.47%

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

Last update for Tampa, FL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,075 in Tampa, FL and $1,410 in Newport News, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tampa, FL pays 14% 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: $80.0 in Tampa, FL vs $63.0 in Newport News, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $435 vs $416 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 15% in total monthly costs ($3,025 vs $2,638 including rent). Newport News, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Tampa, FL pays 14% more on average, 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: $2,075 in Tampa, FL versus $1,410 in Newport News, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,025 per month in Tampa, FL versus $2,638 in Newport News, VA – a 15% 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 20% less than in Tampa, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,638 in Newport News, VA versus $3,025 in Tampa, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Newport News, VA but tight or insufficient in Tampa, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Newport News, VA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 15% less than in Tampa, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.