City comparison
Tampa, FL vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 1.6% higher than in Tampa, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tampa, FL would need about $101,600 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,696 a month in Tampa, FL versus $1,599 in Worcester, MA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Tampa, FL and 26% in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Tampa, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Tampa, FL to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +1.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.5% in real buying power.
- Tampa, FL: price level 100.9 (about average)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Tampa, FL | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,619 in Worcester | $98,407 in Tampa |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,696/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,940 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tampa | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.8 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 95.5 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 97.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tampa, FL → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
63 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Tampa, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Tampa, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Tampa, FL to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tampa, FL | Worcester, MA | Real change, Tampa → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +11.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +11.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +11.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +11.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +11.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tampa, FL | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Tampa dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,120 | $82,810 | $81,491 (+35.5%) |
| Software Developers | $130,450 | $146,950 | $144,609 (+10.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,990 | $94,070 | $92,572 (+17.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $85,470 | $100,240 | $98,643 (+15.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.