- Rent: asking rents run about $1,521 to $1,957 a month depending on the source. The Census median, which includes utilities, is $1,701.
- Buying: Zillow puts the typical home value at $377,566 (condos included). Redfin’s median sale price is $478,683. They measure different things, so both are right.
- Taxes: no state income tax, 7.5% sales tax in Hillsborough County, and property tax of about $1,984 per $100,000 of taxable value inside the city.
- Pay: the metro’s median wage is $23.53 an hour. MIT’s living wage for a single adult with no kids in Hillsborough County is $24.69, so the typical worker earns a little less than that benchmark.
- Insurance: Florida’s average homeowners premium was $2,677 in 2022 against a U.S. average of $1,569, about 1.7 times as much.
Tampa has no state income tax and a 7.5% sales tax, but housing and insurance have climbed fast. Here are the numbers that shape a Tampa budget, each pulled from the agency or company that publishes it.
Different sources measure rent and home prices in different ways, so we show more than one where they disagree and explain the gap.
The short version
Housing
| Measure | Figure | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), Tampa | $1,957/mo | 2026-08-31 | Zillow Research, ZORI city series (all homes, smoothed) |
| Apartment List median rent, Tampa (all units) | $1,521/mo (1BR $1,287, 2BR $1,607) | October 2026 report | Apartment List Rent Report |
| Median gross rent, City of Tampa | $1,701/mo | 2020-2024 ACS 5-year | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (ACS) |
| Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value), Tampa | $377,566 | 2026-08-31 | Zillow Research, ZHVI city series (all homes, mid tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted) |
| Redfin median sale price, Tampa | $478,683 | August 2026 (3-month window) | Redfin Tampa Housing Market |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, City of Tampa | $420,400 | 2020-2024 ACS 5-year | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (ACS) |
Zillow and Apartment List track asking rents on listed units. The Census figure is a five-year average that includes utilities, so it trails the market.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida state personal income tax | None | Current | Florida Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 5(a) (Florida Senate) |
| Total sales tax rate, Hillsborough County | 7.5% | Since June 1, 2025 | Florida Department of Revenue, TIP 25A01-12 |
| Total property tax millage, City of Tampa (district TA) | 19.8428 mills (about $1,984 per $100,000 of taxable value) | Tax year 2025 (final) | Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, Final 2025 Millage |
| Florida homestead exemption | Up to $50,000 off assessed value | PT-113 rev. 08/2025 | Florida Department of Revenue, PT-113 |
| Homestead assessment increase cap (Save Our Homes) | Lower of 3% or prior-year CPI change | Current constitution | Florida Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 4(d) (Florida Senate) |
Hillsborough County charges three 0.5% surtaxes on top of the 6% state rate. The 2026 property tax rates were not final when we checked.
Utilities and getting around
| Cost | Figure | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Electric residential bill, 1,000 kWh | $156.43/mo | Aug-Dec 2026 (PSC table dated 2026-08-01) | Florida Public Service Commission, Total Cost for 1,000 kWh, Residential Service |
| City of Tampa residential water/wastewater rates (inside city) | Base $9.00 water + $9.00 wastewater per month; water $3.59/ccf for 0-5 ccf, $4.18/ccf for 6-13 ccf; wastewater $5.96/ccf | Effective 2026-10-01 | City of Tampa Water Department rate schedule |
| AAA average regular gas, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $4.03/gal | 2026-10-03 | AAA Gas Prices, Florida |
| HART local bus fare (adult, one way) | $2.00 per ride ($4 daily cap) | Accessed 2026-10-04 | HART Fares |
| HART 31-day local pass (adult) | $65 for 31 days | Accessed 2026-10-04 | HART Fares |
The City of Tampa publishes water rates but not a typical bill, so we list the rates.
Insurance
| Policy | Average | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida average residential property insurance premium | $3,023/yr | Q1 2025 | Florida Office of Insurance Regulation data, reported by Insurance Journal (2025-06-17) |
| Florida average homeowners premium (HO-3) | $2,677/yr (U.S. average $1,569) | 2022 | NAIC data via Insurance Information Institute |
| Florida average auto insurance expenditure | $1,372/yr (U.S. average $1,282) | 2023 | NAIC data via Insurance Information Institute |
These are Florida-wide figures. Tampa-only averages are not published by the state.
Income, wages and inflation
| Measure | Figure | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income, City of Tampa | $75,475/yr | 2020-2024 ACS 5-year | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (ACS) |
| Median hourly wage, all occupations, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA | $23.53/hr ($48,940/yr) | May 2025 | BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (series OEUM004530000000000000008) |
| MIT Living Wage, Hillsborough County, 1 adult 0 children | $24.69/hr ($51,346/yr) | Updated 2026-02-15 | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| MIT Living Wage, Hillsborough County, 2 adults (both working) 2 children | $27.25/hr per working adult | Updated 2026-02-15 | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| CPI-U 12-month change, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 1.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 (released 2026-08-12) | BLS Consumer Price Index, Tampa area |
| Florida average annual center-based infant care | $13,011/yr (about $1,084/mo) | 2025 fact sheet (published Sept 2025) | First Five Years Fund, 2025 Florida State Fact Sheet |
Common questions
Does Tampa have a state income tax?
No. Florida's constitution bars a state tax on the income of residents. Hillsborough County's total sales tax is 7.5%: the 6% state rate plus three 0.5% county surtaxes, per the Florida Department of Revenue.
How much is rent in Tampa?
Current asking rents run about $1,521 (Apartment List, October 2026) to $1,957 (Zillow ZORI, August 2026), depending on method. Both sources show rents slightly lower than a year ago. The Census median gross rent, which includes utilities and older leases, is $1,701 (2020-2024).
What are property taxes in the City of Tampa?
The 2025 total millage for City of Tampa properties is 19.8428 mills, or about $1,984 per $100,000 of taxable value. A homesteaded owner can cut taxable value by up to $50,000, and yearly assessment growth on a homestead is capped at 3% or the CPI change, whichever is lower.
How much do I need to earn to live in Tampa?
MIT's living wage for one adult with no children in Hillsborough County is $24.69 an hour, or $51,346 a year before taxes (updated February 2026). The metro median wage is $23.53 an hour (BLS, May 2025), so a single worker at the median earns below that benchmark.
What do utilities and getting around cost?
A Tampa Electric residential bill for 1,000 kWh is $156.43 for August through December 2026, per the Florida PSC. Regular gas averaged $4.03 a gallon in the Tampa metro on October 3, 2026 (AAA). A HART local bus ride is $2.00 and a 31-day pass is $65.