Is San Diego, CA or Tampa, FL cheaper on a $120,000 salary?

Tampa, FL leaves you more: $40,441/yr. On $120,000, San Diego, CA leaves $31,942/yr in pocket (state tax $11,160, housing $47,318) vs Tampa, FL's $72,383 (state tax $0, housing $18,037).

The gap is driven mostly by state income tax (California: 9.30% vs Florida: 0%) and housing.

WhereCanIAfford › Take-home › San Diego, CA vs Tampa, FL

San Diego, CA vs Tampa, FL: cost of living on $120,000

Tampa, FL +$40,441/yr On $120,000, San Diego, CA leaves $31,942/yr in pocket vs Tampa, FL's $72,383 — after state income tax and housing.

Where the money goes

On $120,000	San Diego, CA	Tampa, FL
Federal + FICA (est.)	$29,580	$29,580
State income tax	$11,160 (9.30%)	$0 (0%)
After-tax income	$79,260	$90,420
− Housing/yr (Zillow)	$47,318	$18,037
Real money in pocket	$31,942	$72,383

Verified 2026-06-23 · State tax: Tax Foundation, “State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2025” + state revenue departments. Modeled as an effective planning rate for a typical $80k–$160k filer — not a full bracket engine. · Housing from Zillow ZHVI 2026-05.

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FAQ

Is San Diego, CA or Tampa, FL cheaper?: On $120,000, Tampa, FL — by $40,441/yr in real take-home.
What's the biggest driver?: State income tax (California 9.30% vs Florida 0%) and housing cost.

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