

Chicago vs Tampa
$106/mo less in Tampa
ChicagoTampaAbout 989 miles apart, a flight.
- Tampa costs you more
- No state income tax
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,320/mo in Tampa. $2,426/mo in Chicago. −$1,272 a year.
Chicago
$2,426
left each month
Tampa
$2,320
−$106 vs Chicago
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 1,931 households moved Chicago → Tampa (avg AGI $120,386). 970 went the other way. The whole move →
−$106 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Chicago | Tampa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,348 | −$860 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,480 | −$650 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,868 | −$210 |
| Rent | $1,782 | $1,506 | −$276 |
| Getting around | $392 | $592 | +$200 |
| Groceries | $408 | $400 | −$8 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $450 | −$9 |
| Utilities | $255 | $250 | −$5 |
| Everything else | $357 | $350 | −$7 |
| Left over | $2,426 | $2,320 | −$106 |
Salary to match Chicago
$90,000
Gross pay in Tampa that leaves the same amount as $98,500 in Chicago.
Tax difference
+$4,738
A year, in state and local income tax. Florida has no wage income tax.
More about Tampa
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Tampa, FL in full
No income tax and beaches, but insurance costs are the hidden line item.
The other way
Start in Tampa.
Tampa → Chicago →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Tampa than Chicago?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Tampa leaves about $106 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,506 in Tampa.
Does Tampa have state income tax?
Tampa is in Florida, which has no state income tax.
What changes if you move from Chicago to Tampa?
The paycheck is taxed in Florida. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Chicago and Tampa changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.