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Detroit vs Tampa: Cost of Living

Tampa is about 1% more expensive than Detroit, based on the BEA regional price parity index (U.S. average = 100): Detroit at 100.298, Tampa at 100.89.

Cost of living (U.S. avg 100)
Detroit: 100.298
Cost of living (U.S. avg 100)
Tampa: 100.89
Salary parity ($100K in Detroit)
$101K in Tampa

If you earn $100K in Detroit, you would need about $101K in Tampa to keep the same standard of living (price levels only; taxes on your specific income are separate).

Rents: the biggest difference

Detroit

Rent price parity: 94.69 (U.S. average = 100)

Tampa

Rent price parity: 125.839 (U.S. average = 100)

What common jobs pay in each city (after tax)

OccupationMedian (Detroit)Take-home (Detroit)Median (Tampa)Take-home (Tampa)
Software Developer$131K$96K$130K$100K
Data Scientist$103K$78K$110K$86K
Registered Nurse$97K$74K$85K$69K
Accountant$81K$63K$79K$64K
Mechanical Engineer$109K$82K$100K$79K
Marketing Manager$149K$108K$160K$121K
Electrician$82K$64K$57K$48K
Elementary School Teacher$65K$53K$60K$50K
Police Officer$78K$62K$76K$62K
Chef$61K$49K$58K$49K
Financial Analyst$102K$77K$80K$65K
Civil Engineer$93K$71K$101K$80K
Pharmacist----
Physical Therapist----
Dental Hygienist----
Web Developer----
Graphic Designer----
Paralegal$63K$51K$60K$51K
Plumber----
HVAC Technician$63K$51K$51K$43K

Taxes at a glance

Take-home assumes a single filer using the standard deduction. Detroit (Michigan state tax), Tampa (Florida state tax). A $100K salary nets about $76K in Detroit vs $79K in Tampa. Full assumptions: methodology.