Rents are 13% below what Tampa's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,992 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Tampa, FL is roughly split between renters and owners, 45.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Tampa, FL has changed in 5 years
Rent in Tampa, FL has climbed 36.6% since 2021, going from about $1,458 per month to roughly $1,992 today. Median household income grew from $59,893 to $75,475 between 2021 and 2024, a 26.0% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 380,476 to 401,618 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.6% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 41.8% to 45.7%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Tampa, FL reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Tampa on your salary?
At $1,992/mo, how Tampa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Tampa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Tampa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Tampa
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Tampa is $1,992/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,703/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,151/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,834/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,753/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($75,475/yr), Tampa ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Tampa residents rent vs. own?
How does Tampa rent compare to the national average?
At $1,992/mo, rent takes ~32% of Tampa's median household income ($75,475/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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