City comparison
Portland, OR vs Tampa, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 4.5% higher than in Tampa, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tampa, FL would need about $104,500 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,677 a month in Portland, OR and $1,696 in Tampa, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Tampa, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Portland, OR to Tampa, FL ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.0% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Tampa, FL: price level 100.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, OR | Tampa, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 100.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,702 in Tampa | $104,491 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $1,696/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $48,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 125.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 95.5 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 97.6 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 100.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Tampa, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
82 Strong offer
Tampa, FL → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Tampa, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Tampa, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Tampa, FL | Real change, Portland → Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Tampa, FL | Tampa pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $60,120 | $62,820 (−23.7%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $130,450 | $136,309 (−12.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $78,990 | $82,537 (−10.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $85,470 | $89,308 (−31.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.