Inflation in Tampa Compared to The Rest of The USA

There's no question that inflation is hitting the nation hard. Whether you’re looking to buy a car, lease an apartment, or buy a carton of eggs, everything just costs more. Here’s how inflation in Tampa compares to the rest of the USA.

Stacker recently released their report on how Inflation of 10 items in Tampa compares to the rest of the US and we found it very interesting. It may not seem like a huge increase for each item, but think about it adding up for every item in your cart.

Pizza Thursday is my weekly tradition. I don’t dine out at a fancy pizza establishment, but instead, I run to Walmart to grab Jack’s frozen pepperoni pizza. It’s basically a chip. In 2020, the price per pizza was $2.51. By 2024, the price is $3.86 and I’ve seen it as high as $4.That is a 54% increase … on PIZZA.

Stacker used the Bureau of Labor Statistics to analyze and compare 10 items or commodities in Tampa to the national price in February.

Cereals and bakery goods increased in Tampa by 4.5% while the nationwide change was only up by 1.7%. Check out Captain Crunch. The boxes are getting smaller and the prices are skyrocketing. Don’t believe me? A 2001 Regular Captain Crunch box shows 16 ounces on the box for the basic sized box. In 2024, the regular Captain Crunch basic box has only 12.6 ounces.

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs were up 1.1% in Tampa but were down 0.5% across the nation. That’s not a huge percentage increase, but when you look at Vital Farms Pasture Raised eggs are $6.39, you’ll notice it adds up.

Fruits and vegetables are up about 2.9% and the rest of the nation is only seeing a 0.8% increase. The one-month change is up 0.9% in Tampa and down a slight 0.2% nationwide.

We all know housing right now is crazy just about anywhere in Florida. With Tampa’s average up 6%, the rest of the nation is seeing a 4.5% increase. More and more apartment complexes are popping up as prices surge. 

Let’s talk about dairy. Tampa has seen a 5.4% increase annually with the rest of the nation seeing a 1.8% decrease. We’re down 2.3% in the past month, but nowhere close to the nation's average.

For more information on Inflation in Tampa and other common goods and commodities Stacker analyzed in this report, visit their site here.

[Main Source: Stacker]

Tampa must be doing something right to have so many people move here every year. A recent Reddit thread asked the question, "what is Tampa doing right compared to other major cities?" A lot of people chimed in with their opinions. We thought we would highlight the best ones.

We know that Tampa is not perfect, and really any U.S. city could always use some improvements. But that doesn't mean Tampa isn't a great place to live or vacation. Compared to other cities, we seem to be doing a few things right. Now I have not been to every major U.S. city, but a fair share. So I think I can agree with everything the Reddit users have listed.

Recently Creative Loafing put out a survey to their readers. They had nearly 200 responses for the "What Tampa Bay Needs" survey. A Tampa Bay Times journalist even submitted his twelve suggestions that would make Tampa a better place. It included the obvious building of a train/light rail on 275, increasing public parks, building more sidewalks, and more. You can read all the suggestions here.

Although it needs some work, one surprising thing you will find on this list is public transportation. Everyone in the Tampa Bay area seems to agree that we need a better solution for our traffic. Maybe expanding lanes can help short term, but with the overwhelming number of people moving to Tampa, it can only help for so long. Many residents think that the new Howard Frankland Bridge won't make a bit of a difference when it comes to relieving traffic. The good news is that they are building the bridge to be able to equip a light rail when the time comes.

There's a reason TPA has a cult-like following. It's because it's been named one of America's best airports over and over again. Tampa International Airport is so organized and efficient compared to other airports like MCO (and from my personal experiences) Denver Airport, Phoenix, LAX, etc.

We know how bad the traffic can be in Tampa, but thankfully the road conditions aren't as bad as other major cities. It helps that we have multiple resources to report potholes, asphalt delamination, and more. Reddit users say they've filed complaints with the City of Tampa's fix it fast program and saw changes within 24-48 hours.

After realizing how much you pay for property taxes, you should really take advantage of your public library. Once you get a library card, you can download any ebook, magazine, and more from Hillsborough libraries through the Libby app. Plus many libraries offer kids clubs, ASL classes, and computers with Adobe programs.

This one may be controversial for some of you. But keep in mind we're comparing Tampa to other major U.S. cities. Compared to places like LA, NYC, Chicago, and New Orleans, Tampa is way cleaner than many other major markets. Think back a few weeks to Gasparilla, the day after the parade, it looked like it didn't even happen! Plus we have so many pet cleanup stations and trash cans that are regularly emptied.

While Tampa is lacking some major public transport like a light rail, the systems we do have are reliable and fairly affordable. We are forever grateful the TECO streetcar in Downtown Tampa is free to use. Our preferred way of getting around on Lightning game days. Plus, there's the Pirate Taxi, Cross Bay Ferry, and downtown has the cheap option of the Dash Tesla cabs. Riders are $2 each.

Speaking of Lightning game days. The Tampa Bay Lightning organization is one of the reasons that makes Tampa so great. Owner Jeff Vinik has put a lot of money and change into the city over the past few years. Plus, the way the players and organization interact with and help the community is outstanding. Someone also mentioned the traffic control around Lightning (and Bucs) games are way better compared to other cities.

Tampa is known for it's diverse population with a lack of segregated areas (besides Hyde Park and Davis Island). From restaurants, to art galleries and museums, Tampa is flooded with all kinds of culture. We are also home to the only trilingual paper in the country.