126 metros leave you better off than Tampa

Pharmacist earning $129,000 in Tampa, FL. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $4,682 a month today.

Your best overall match

Seattle, WA

+$1,702/mo (+$20,424 a year) versus Tampa

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Your pay moves with the local market for your job.

Rent is priced at the bedroom count you need in each metro.

0

Suggested for your household.

What matters to you?

1 means leave it out of the ranking, 5 means it decides the ranking.

5 Deal-breaker

What is left after tax, rent and the month's bills.

2 A little

Sunshine, and summers and winters that are not extreme.

2 A little

Population and density, rather than small-town scale.

Every metro on the map

Coloured by this ranking. Click a dot for the city page; right-click or long-press to compare, set home, zoom or copy a link.

SeattleMidlandAustinWashingtonSan FranciscoBismarckDenverManchesterNashvilleJacksonville
Best fitMiddle thirdWeakest fitWhere you live now · $4,682/moDot size is population. 383 metros in the 48 states; 4 outside the frame. Best best fit: Seattle, WA. Right-click or long-press for actions.

1

Seattle, WA

No state income tax and high wages, offset by home prices and 150 sunny days.

No state income taxCar optional

Left over monthly

$6,384

+$1,702 vs today

Local pay
$164,681
Rent (1br)
$1,761/mo
Take-home
$10,276/mo
Everything else
$2,131/mo
Money left over
100
Sun and mild weather
49
Being in a big city
82
2

Midland, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,516 and 263 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.

No state income tax263 sunny days22-min commute

Left over monthly

$6,172

+$1,490 vs today

Local pay
$148,076
Rent (1br)
$1,273/mo
Take-home
$9,330/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
94
Sun and mild weather
78
Being in a big city
34
3

Austin, TX

No income tax, but property taxes are among the steepest anywhere.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,783

+$1,101 vs today

Local pay
$142,723
Rent (1br)
$1,226/mo
Take-home
$9,025/mo
Everything else
$2,016/mo
Money left over
84
Sun and mild weather
66
Being in a big city
80
4

Houston, TX

The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,720

+$1,038 vs today

Local pay
$139,979
Rent (1br)
$1,199/mo
Take-home
$8,869/mo
Everything else
$1,950/mo
Money left over
82
Sun and mild weather
63
Being in a big city
76
5

Washington, DC

Recession-resistant government and consulting pay, humid summers, real transit.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$5,589

+$907 vs today

Local pay
$170,170
Rent (1br)
$1,929/mo
Take-home
$9,620/mo
Everything else
$2,102/mo
Money left over
79
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
86
6

Dallas, TX

No income tax, endless new construction, and a 1.5% property tax bill.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,605

+$923 vs today

Local pay
$139,979
Rent (1br)
$1,263/mo
Take-home
$8,869/mo
Everything else
$2,001/mo
Money left over
79
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
76
7

San Francisco, CA

Dense, walkable, cold in July, and priced for two incomes.

Car optional

Left over monthly

$5,294

+$612 vs today

Local pay
$183,894
Rent (1br)
$2,609/mo
Take-home
$10,317/mo
Everything else
$2,414/mo
Money left over
71
Sun and mild weather
86
Being in a big city
92
8

Lexington Park, MD

State income tax topping out at 5.75%, a median 2-bedroom estimated asking rent of $1,896 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 35 minutes.

Left over monthly

$5,917

+$1,235 vs today

Local pay
$171,268
Rent (1br)
$1,593/mo
Take-home
$9,532/mo
Everything else
$2,022/mo
Money left over
87
Sun and mild weather
71
Being in a big city
39
9

Bismarck, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,298 and 196 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,827

+$1,145 vs today

Local pay
$139,430
Rent (1br)
$1,090/mo
Take-home
$8,714/mo
Everything else
$1,797/mo
Money left over
85
Sun and mild weather
47
Being in a big city
35
10

Odessa, TX

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,398 and 269 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.

No state income tax269 sunny days

Left over monthly

$5,568

+$886 vs today

Local pay
$135,724
Rent (1br)
$1,174/mo
Take-home
$8,627/mo
Everything else
$1,885/mo
Money left over
78
Sun and mild weather
80
Being in a big city
25
11

Denver, CO

Mountains in an hour, 245 sunny days, and a flat 4.4% state tax.

Left over monthly

$5,139

+$457 vs today

Local pay
$145,468
Rent (1br)
$1,490/mo
Take-home
$8,702/mo
Everything else
$2,073/mo
Money left over
66
Sun and mild weather
72
Being in a big city
76
12

Manchester, NH

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $2,139 and 187 sunny days; commutes average 27 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,495

+$813 vs today

Local pay
$148,350
Rent (1br)
$1,797/mo
Take-home
$9,346/mo
Everything else
$2,054/mo
Money left over
76
Sun and mild weather
58
Being in a big city
49
13

Nashville, TN

No income tax and a real music and healthcare economy; traffic is the tax.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,113

+$431 vs today

Local pay
$133,117
Rent (1br)
$1,399/mo
Take-home
$8,478/mo
Everything else
$1,966/mo
Money left over
66
Sun and mild weather
68
Being in a big city
78
14

Minot, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,132 and 202 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

20-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,743

+$1,061 vs today

Local pay
$135,587
Rent (1br)
$951/mo
Take-home
$8,501/mo
Everything else
$1,807/mo
Money left over
83
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
26
15

Cheyenne, WY

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,219 and 253 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

No state income tax18-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,522

+$840 vs today

Local pay
$134,489
Rent (1br)
$1,024/mo
Take-home
$8,556/mo
Everything else
$2,010/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
69
Being in a big city
30
16

Jacksonville, FL

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,531 and 245 sunny days; commutes average 26 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,103

+$421 vs today

Local pay
$130,098
Rent (1br)
$1,286/mo
Take-home
$8,306/mo
Everything else
$1,917/mo
Money left over
65
Sun and mild weather
81
Being in a big city
62
17

San Antonio, TX

Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,185

+$503 vs today

Local pay
$127,628
Rent (1br)
$1,052/mo
Take-home
$8,166/mo
Everything else
$1,929/mo
Money left over
68
Sun and mild weather
67
Being in a big city
64
18

Bremerton, WA

No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,919 and 154 sunny days; commutes average 30 minutes.

No state income tax

Left over monthly

$5,500

+$818 vs today

Local pay
$145,331
Rent (1br)
$1,612/mo
Take-home
$9,174/mo
Everything else
$2,062/mo
Money left over
76
Sun and mild weather
50
Being in a big city
47
19

Raleigh, NC

Research Triangle salaries, low taxes, and not much to do downtown.

Left over monthly

$5,136

+$454 vs today

Local pay
$138,606
Rent (1br)
$1,249/mo
Take-home
$8,345/mo
Everything else
$1,960/mo
Money left over
66
Sun and mild weather
70
Being in a big city
66
20

Fargo, ND

State income tax topping out at 2.5%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,049 and 193 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.

18-min commute

Left over monthly

$5,538

+$856 vs today

Local pay
$129,961
Rent (1br)
$881/mo
Take-home
$8,190/mo
Everything else
$1,771/mo
Money left over
77
Sun and mild weather
44
Being in a big city
45
Show the remaining 367 metros

Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated.