Miami vs Tampa: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Comparing home values: Miami sits at $433,900, 30% higher than Tampa's $333,200.

Typical households bring in $54,858 a year in Miami, versus $66,802 in Tampa.

Median rent is $1,494 in Miami, compared with $1,422 in Tampa.

FEMA rates Miami's natural-hazard risk higher than Tampa's: Very High versus Relatively High.

Metric	Miami, FL	Tampa, FL
Population	443,665	388,768
Median home value	$433,900	$333,200
Median household income	$54,858	$66,802
Median gross rent	$1,494	$1,422
Climate risk (FEMA)	Very High	Relatively High

Tampa, FL beats Miami, FL on both housing metrics we track — home value and rent — though this doesn't capture the full cost of living.

Moving between Miami and Tampa

Miami and Tampa are 206 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Miami → Tampa	Tampa → Miami
Median rent	−$72/mo (−5%)	+$72/mo (+5%)
Median home value	−$100,700 (−23%)	+$100,700 (+30%)
Median household income	+$11,944 (+22%)	−$11,944 (−18%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$641 – $987
2-3 bedroom	$1,864 – $2,843
4+ bedroom house	$3,400 – $5,172

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Miami, FL Tampa, FL

237 miles estimated driving distance · 4 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$364 – $465

Includes an estimated $83 in fuel (24 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$1,863 – $3,112

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.