Cost of Living Comparison between Helena, MT vs Tampa, FL

Some stores like Fry's offer frequent discounts or loyalty programs that can save you even more at the checkout. Since groceries are an essential part of you cost of living, take advantage of discounts whenever you can. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

If you love sports, you will love Tampa, FL! Since there are football, baseball, hockey teams, you can go to a lot of games. Keep in mind that the tickets tend to be expensive, so you need to manage your entertainment budget carefully. Sometimes you can get discount tickets on line. Some people purchase a season ticket with a group of friends and take turns going to the games. Sports tickets can increase your cost of living in Tampa, FL, but if you are a true sports fan it is worth it. In Tampa, FL, the games are usually shown on local TV and you can host a party of friends and watch the game together. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The average cost of internet access in the U.S. is $66.20 per month. There are many providers and various packages that are offered, many that bundle internet, cable, and phone together. Pricing for various packages can vary a lot even in the same location. You should evaluate the options based on your usage and preferences and pick the best fit for your needs. One tip to reduce this cost and your overall cost of living, is to get cable service from another source like Direct TV, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime or others. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Even if you are moving within your current state, the cost of moving could be over $1,000 depending on the city, what you are moving, and how much professional help you hire. You can save some expense by packing boxes yourself, renting a U-Haul truck, and asking friends and family to help with the loading and unloading. You should call at least three moving companies for a moving estimate, the cost might be less than you think and you won’t have to worry about a friend hurting their back trying to move your heavy furniture. Another way to make your move easier – and save money – is by weeding out items you don’t need anymore. Why bother to move stuff that you do not even use! Have a yard sale or find a local charitable organization and donate items you no longer use. Make sure you include these moving costs into the overall cost of living for year one in Tampa, FL. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Electric costs in Tampa,FL are currently lower than average when compared to other states. Since a year ago the price of electricity in Florida has gone down about 5.407%. Electric costs will contribute to the energy component of your overall cost of living. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

It is difficult to exactly predict the cost of child care in any city, which for parents, is a large part of the cost of living. There are different arrangements and lengths of time that are needed to care for a child, and costs may vary a lot depending on the services provided. Based on the state average, for Tampa child care for a child up to 3 years could cost $8694 per year. Florida, is ranked NO. 32 in annual cost of child care in the U.S. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

In Tampa,FL, my friend pays $1258 for a large 2 bedroom apartment. Since he has 2 children, he needs to have a large apartment. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Looks for areas of Tampa, Florida where there is a large student population. In those areas you will be sure to find lots of free or cheap events to go to and plenty of cheap places to eat. Familiarize yourself with the places where students hang out, and take advantage of discounted or bargain prices, you are sure to be able to keep your cost of living reasonable. Look at the website for Tampa, FL to find recommendations for activities that are available and unique to the area. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Overall, the time and ease of your driving times will impact your cost of living, since driving in heavy and slow moving traffic uses a lot of gas. Tampa, Florida is considered one of the best cities to drive in. In fact, Tampa, Florida is ranked 10 out of 100 US cities for ease of driving. Driving here could make commutes shorter and inexpensive, since you won’t be wasting gas and time sitting a traffic all the time. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

Getting to work is important. The weather, traffic, time of year, day of week and if there are accidents, can all impact your commute time. Hopefully you will have a smooth commute in Tampa, Florida, but be prepared for delays. The time you spend commuting is time you do not have to do other things, so it is valuable. The average time for commuting in Tampa is 36.33 minutes. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The weather in Tampa is ideal. Based on data collected by NOAA tiol Climatic Data Center, Tampa is considered to have one of the most favorable climates in the country based on comfort and number of days with clear skies. You will enjoy living in Tampa, Florida. ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )

The cost of a monthly transit pass in Tampa, FL is around $85.00. Ask your employer if they offer discounted passes to save even more money and reduce your cost of commuting and overall Cost of Living (COL). ( 2024-11-21 salary.com )