Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Tampa, FL

Tampa is moderately more affordable than Fort Lauderdale, with a 14.3% lower cost of living index. Fort Lauderdale scores 130 compared to 114 for Tampa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Lauderdale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Lauderdale is $1,776/month compared to $1,567/month in Tampa — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Tampa is more affordable at $375,300 median vs $455,600.

Median household income in Fort Lauderdale is $79,935 compared to $71,302 in Tampa (+12.1%). The higher salaries in Fort Lauderdale partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Lauderdale spend roughly 26.7% of their income on rent, more than the 26.4% in Tampa.