It sure is pretty place to live, but it’s not cheap. | Photo via @growgavan
Let’s talk about the cost of living in Tampa Bay. The median household income in Hillsborough County is $76,687 and $70,768 in Pinellas County according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, Florida is No.30 in the country for median income at ~$41,459 per household.
But just how expensive is it to live in Tampa Bay? Is it cheaper elsewhere? Let’s crunch the numbers.
Tampa’s cost vs. Miami’s cost
At a glance, you can get a good sense of the Big Guava’s cost by comparing it to our neighbors in the 305. We used NerdWallet’s calculator to give you a look at the numbers:
Income. If you make $50,000 in Tampa, you’d need to make $60,556.72 for a similar lifestyle in Miami.
Housing is 50% higher in Miami than Tampa.
Gas. If you moved to Miami you’d pay 1% more on a gallon of gas.
Food. You’ll pay 4% more on groceries and eating out in Miami than Tampa.
Networking Lunch: 9/11 Tribute | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Arthur Boring Convention Center, Plant City | $30+ | Observe the solemn anniversary with a meaningful chat with a US Air Force veteran + The Warriors Journey leader, networking, and some lunch.
TEDxSt Pete Women: “Golden Age of Greatness” | 4-9 p.m. | Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg | $161+ | Lean in and listen to insights from thought leaders, from actionable strategies to elevate your well-being to tips on building lasting prosperity and cultivating profound joy.
Budget Public Hearing #1 | 6 p.m. | 175 5th St N, St. Petersburg | Free | Watch how St. Pete’s sausage... err budget gets made, and weigh in with questions and feedback before it’s finalized.
Friday, Sept. 12
2025 Annual Arts Festival | Friday, Sept. 12 | Times vary | New Tampa Performing Arts Center | Free | Catch a screening of “Beauty and the Beast,” food trucks, The Florida Orchestra’s instrument petting zoo, sketch comedy, and a performance by the Tampa City Ballet at this weekend-long arts party.
Kristin Key | 7 p.m. | Funny Bone | $63 | Don’t miss the “Camp Kristin Tour 2025" stop in the Cigar City. If you do, you’ll have to catch the comic on her “Kristin Knows Blank” podcast.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Art Yard Sale | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Glass Studio and Hot Shop at Morean Arts Center | Free | Score great deals on art and miscellaneous items from local artisans — prices start at $1 and max out at $100.
Friends of the Library Book Sale | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Safety Harbor Library | Free entry | Stock up on well-loved reads, CDs, and DVDs for your cozy fall and winter viewing pleasure — proceeds benefit the library’s programming.
Totally Rad Vintage Fest | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Special Events Center, Tampa | $11+ | Skip sifting through fast fashion at the thrift store and browse curated threads from the 1980 through early 2000s, plus toys + home goods, the free vintage arcade, and the Rad Rewind Museum.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World” | 8 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall | $51+ | The nominees are in, and the competition is fierce with Daya Betty as Lady Gaga, Onya Nurve as Beyoncé, Jorgeous as Ariana Grande, Kim Chi as Celine Dion, and Vanessa Vanjie as Rihanna.
Sunday, Sept. 14
Fall Bouquet Workshop | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | HaleLife Bistro, St. Petersburg | $60+ | Expertly arrange fresh flowers over baked treats, then festoon your table with some fall flair.
Want to reach Tampa Bay locals? Here’s the easiest way to advertise right now
Graphic by 6AM City
Let’s be honest: advertising can feel like a lot.
Back-and-forth meetings and a whole lot of waiting just to get your advertising efforts started. That’s exactly why we built the 6AM City Self-Service Ad Portal: a refreshingly simple way to get your brand in front of thousands of engaged Tampa Bay readers — on your time, your terms, and without the usual slowdown.
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The new stadium isn’t the only major transformation coming to USF. University leaders just approved redeveloping the old 138-acre golf course into the Fletcher District. The new project will boast student housing, four to six restaurants, a new academic research facility, retail, and a hotel and conference center. (That’s So Tampa)
Civic
The Special Election Day for Tampa City Council District 5 is headed to a runoff. Next month, voters will decide whether Thomas Scott or Naya Young will fill the late Gwendolyn Henderson city council seat. Read up on the candidates before early voting kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 23. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Open
Ubuntu fans rejoice. The Sunshine City food truck is now permanently open at a new spot along Central Avenue, featuring outdoor seating, games, and live music. What’s on the menu? Think bao buns stuffed with pork, coconut curry crab rangoon, and Impossible Burgers. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Announced
Earlier this week, we shared some piping hot restaurant news. But wait, there’s more. Moon Under Water is reopening over in Gulfport. The longtime British pub plans to start slinging brews and its beloved casual eats in the Sea Dogs Cantina space as early as January. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Listen
Have you ever wondered who’s behind Tampa International’s wild — and wildly popular — Instagram? WUSF chatted with the man at the helm of the airport’s social media channels, C.J. Johnson, on this week’s “Florida Matters.”Listen in. (WUSF News)
Sports
The Tampa Bay Rays survived a late comeback by the Chicago White Sox to win earlier this week. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Drink
A mellow moment in a can? Count us in. Cycling Frog is offering a free THC seltzer (just cover $2 shipping). Each flavor (Black Currant, Ruby Grapefruit, or Wild Cherry) pairs THC and CBD for a crisp, balanced sip that’s legal, low-key, and perfect for unwinding.*†‡
Plan Ahead
Don’t let your seasonal event get lost in oversaturated community calendars. Feature it right here in TBAYtoday + get primo placement in front of our 50,000+ engaged subscribers. Get started.
Finance
If you owe more than $10,000 in debt, Freedom Debt Relief could help by offering a personalized debt settlement plan and negotiating with creditors to reduce the amount owed. Start tackling your debt.*
Pumpkin spice lattes are back — and so is our quest for the perfect fall boots. Here are our top five picks of the season:
👢 These knee high boots strike the perfect balance between function and style with an anti-slip rubber outsole and chic buckle detailing.
👢 Free People’s Western booties feature a sophisticated two-inch heel, patent leather, and appliqué details for under $70.
👢 Spot us wearing these vanilla-hued suede pointed toe ankle booties to date nights and dinner parties all season long.
👢 These timeless Chelsea ankle boots are a steal for under $50. Oh, and they’re top-rated on Amazon.
👢 Sporty meets sleek in Eurosoft’s ultra-comfortable side zip boots complete with a padded footbed + round toe design.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
If you take one thing from today’s newsletter — other than the election day results haha — let it be the FMoPA film class. My friends and family hate to see me whip out my Olympus Stylus, but they love looking back at our warm-toned memories.
We’re so lucky to have the pros at Coastal Film Lab in Ybor City, which is less than a mile walk from FMoPA if you want to check it out after class.
Lucky for me — and my fellow barrier island dwellers — they set up a drop box outside the Black Crow Coffee Co. in the Grand Central District. So I’m thankfully not racing to make it over the bridge before they close at 6 p.m. anymore.
‡Limit 1 can of seltzer. First-time customers only. Must be 21+.
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