The REAL Cost of Living in Tampa Florida 2025

[@trulivingtampa]

Thinking about making the move to Tampa Florida? Reach out! We're here to help. Juan Alcala - Tampa Realtor 📲 Call/Text Direct at [phone] 📲 Email: [e-mail] 📅 calendly.com/juan-alcala/45 👨‍💻 Website: www.tbhomesearch.com/ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/juan.alcala.realtor/

[@mike60605]

Wow, this is a great video for anyone considering moving to Tampa. I wish I had this before I moved. Concerning groceries, I feel like Publix has 90% of the market share and they pretty much dominate the state. I feel like their staffing levels are really high which may be driving up their prices; in Chicago, you had about a 25% chance of getting someone to bag your groceries, here they are tripping all over each other to help you because they have so many people working. With the water, I learned that I should have taken a picture of the meter before moving into my home as I got a massive first water bill because they based the bill on historical usage where there were several people living in my townhome.

[@FrankGiuliano]

We have a wonderful Publix here on Amelia Island, but Harris Teeter is great too. and we have an amazing Walmart off the island, that carries Local Florida and Georgia Produce. Aldi is one of those love it or hate it stores. whenever we go to Aldi, we come out empty ... nothing good, that I could get better quality at any other market. Plus ALL Aldi produce is from South America, and look at where their boxed goods are from.. mainly China. the only near local is their milk. Aldi is German owned and adds nothing to the local economy. Most stores run on 3 employees.

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for sharing!

[@techweenie1]

Yeah I'm dumbfounded on how much more expensive and scammy Tampa / Tampa Bay is compared to Chicago / Chicagoland. It just seems like a rip off for what you get and I was living in the south loop, 60605, which isn't exactly a bastion for good governance, before moving here. Is this the cost for blue skies, sun and warm temperatures in winter?

[@katerinadehning1685]

Great info, Juan. Lovely to have Kate on the program as well! We are empty nesters in south Tampa. So just two of us. We pay for groceries cca $800/month. We eat mostly home, get fresh products, best fish, fruits, veggies...I shop in Publix, Walmart and for fresh products in Detwilers, which I strongly recommend if you have one in your area. Amazing fish, meat, fruits, veggies... from the Amish community in our area. Good prices, which I usually don't look at and get what I want.

[@trulivingtampa]

Thank you for sharing your shopping strategy!

[@techweenie1]

I really wish there were a Detwilers closer to Tampa, I drive 45 mins each way every so often to Palmetto to go to it.

[@avilabiel]

We are considering moving to Orlando, a family of 6, 4 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. This video was so helpful! Please keep posting and happy new year, guys.

[@trulivingtampa]

Glad it helped. Let me know of you need any help finding a home over there. I’ve got a couple of great agents we refer our clients to. Happy New Year!

[@onemishelle]

I grew up in Tampa, but have been gone for 24 years. It definitely has changed. 26:14 26:16 Family of 4 here. Our home here in Northern Virginia is 20 years old. Energy bill for heating was 140 this month for our 4200 sq foot home, because we re-insulated. We have a 20,000 gallon pool that is salt water. It runs 1200 for the year with opening, closing and running. Grocery bill is 1000 a month for all organic and farm fresh food. I have a beautiful garden every year and preserve food. We don’t have CDDs here, but our HOA is about 180 a month with cable/wifi included. Our kids attend public school, because the education system is outstanding here and our teachers are well compensated. Our trash is included in our taxes with run about 7500 annually for our 1 million dollar home. We have 4 cars with two teenage drivers with new cars. Auto insurance runs us 7800 annually with a huge umbrella policy on both our cars and home owners, which runs 3600 annually with content insurance. We still visit Florida and I will be renting a condo for a month on Siesta Key (unaffected by hurricanes), but will always remain a Virginia resident. I will miss the “old Florida”, but it has changed so much. If I hear of anyone considering a move to Fl from here, I will send them your way. BTW, it was 60 degrees here today, so not much snow in these parts.

[@trulivingtampa]

What a great share. Thank you! 60° in December is fantastic!

[@thewealthyg]

Great video fam! This is the most in depth video regarding the cost of living I’ve seen yet. I’ve got a family of 4 and making the move from Philly. Will def get in touch!

[@trulivingtampa]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@sunsolar3330]

In colorado. We pay 3200.for groceries, 2800 for rent, 930 car payment. 4k a yr in insurance

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TheJAmericanfamily]

Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing.

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for watching!

[@brettcoleman1641]

IT here .. regarding Internet portion, even fiber you can share bandwidth with others on the backbone fiber routes back to the head end. It all depends on your service agreement. However, it is more reliable than broadband coax. Having 1G symmetrical speeds means working from home is easier because you have more bandwidth to share among your home devices. But, I am considering moving to Tampa this year and been watching your videos religiously. Very very helpful and you know your city well!

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for the clarification. The internet is not my expertise. All I know is fiber is fast and reliable. 😎

[@ogramresse]

The car insurance was mind blowing when we moved here in 2011. 2 teen drivers, 3 cars was $780 a month. We had 3 cars as a week ago, sold one so our insurance went from 374 a month to 241 a month. But no teen drivers anymore they aged out and moved off to Texas. Electricity is awful for us, got a new ac and it got worse past 2 years. Average 350 to 590 from March to November. Tampa Bay area is an adjustment.

[@marcelagarciagalindo8384]

I like that the swimming is all year round since my boy is into swimming & soccer.

[@trulivingtampa]

It’s such a blessing to swim all work winter.

[@Mr.Saltwater]

What I noticed after moving to Clearwater fron Austin/Houston is how much more groceries cost here. Holy crap. I guess its because Texas is an export state and Florida has to import. Ridiculous prices at Publix. Totally shocked how bad those are

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for sharing.

[@jorgealbertoestradagaviria1531]

What about health insurance?

[@trulivingtampa]

I didn't include it because it ranges so wildly depending on family size, age, and employment. From what we see and hear, it's comparable to most other areas.

[@daryl252000ify]

Water in Illinois is not good either! Which is odd, because in Missouri, it's actually great! Alton, IL and St. Louis, MO is literally right across the river from each other and the taste of each one's water is drastically different. One makes you never want to drink water there again and the other is so refreshing. I'm not really sure which is worse between Florida and Illinois though. But anytime I'm in Florida, it's bottle water for me. Despite how bad Florida water is, I still want to move there.

[@trulivingtampa]

It didn't stop us either. Thanks for sharing!

[@mirandaphillips6489]

Missouri family of 4 and we spend $1500 to $1,800 on groceries per month…we eat out 1 to 2 times per week though. Dinning out has gotten crazy expensive!

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Element0f_1]

Waldi - Walmart / Aldi

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for sharing.

[@JakeLopata]

If you are rich your make it week to week if your dedicated enough and have a positive mindset you can move to Florida I’m 29 I support 2 kids and my wife and we live comfortably down here. Yeah I can’t ride a boat every weekend but if I can do it you can too it’s your mindset. You definitely need a vehicle down here I want one more for my girl to

[@trulivingtampa]

I agree, your mindset is everything when it comes to making it work!

[@HeartsOfDarkness]

This video helped me to understand why the national credit card debt is to the moon 💸.

[@trulivingtampa]

We have zero CC debt, thank you.

[@HeartsOfDarkness]

@ My comment wasn’t met to be directed at you. Perhaps the increased cost of living in some areas correlates with the increasing amount of credit card debt. Seems many may be supporting basic life necessities via credit. Being debt free is a good thing. Especially credit card debt. Dave Ramsey would be proud!

[@ByeAlicia]

We are a family of 4 in Gilbert, AZ. We spend about $1000 on groceries my boys are still really young so I’m sure that’ll change. I live in the desert and pay 1.5 less than yall in electricity 👀. That's a little unnerving. But I'm still coming! lol Kate’s face when you said put Amazon expense 😂😂 I’m with her! Hey any suggestions on Protestant or nondenominational churches we should check out?

[@trulivingtampa]

Honestly, I'm more afraid of the number than she probably is. 🤣 And yes, we can help point you to a few great churches.

[@adamscott796]

$291/month in home owner insurance? Does that also include flood insurance and wind insurance?

[@trulivingtampa]

That's without flood insurance. Its not required on every home

[@adamscott796]

@@trulivingtampa A lot of people I know live in Tampa/St. Peterburg zone X, and they didn't purchase flood insurance. Well, hurricanes Helene & Milton flooded their homes, and because they didn't have flood insurance, they were out of luck. Not buying flood insurance in zone X is a really a BAD idea. Hurricane Helene and Milton just proved that point.

[@Mr.Saltwater]

My flood zone is N/A . Breathed a huge sigh of relief when I called and figured out it meant Non Applicable .

[@deelehey2827]

Venetian Isles in St. Petersburg always floods. I would never buy there. Way overpriced.

[@trulivingtampa]

Lots of flooding in that area. Thanks for sharing.

[@Conservative-Dad]

We have a family of 4 with no dog and our grocery on average is $1,700 a month in Texas. That’s us shopping at sprouts, Costco and a mix of Walmart and Kroger. We buy only healthy foods so I totally understand your numbers! It’s whatever is priority for you! If health is not a priority you can cut that down like $400 or more

[@trulivingtampa]

Thanks for sharing your experience and insights!

[@SWFL-BOK]

Until 8:05 they don’t talk about anything

[@FrankGiuliano]

No.. you can't afford Florida ! stay up north - Please..

[@trulivingtampa]

That's a strong opinion. Everyone has different priorities.

[@kathy7107]

This is great information. But the add interrupting was very distracting.

[@trulivingtampa]

Pros and cons. That's how they keep it free to us. Thanks for watching!

[@marcelagarciagalindo8384]

Great video Juan & Kate!! Thank you happy New Year!!

[@JasonTpersonal-ey5mx]

Now I understand why all of my friends graduated from Usf moved out of the state 🥲. Tampa bay does not fit for young people, too expensive