According to a new report from the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development, the greater Tampa area has the lowest cost of living in the state. Tampa scored a 91.6 on the 2015 index, with 100 representing the national average. The Tampa metro has occupied the first or second spot for affordability in Florida since 2011. The EDC report takes into consider ration the prices of food, apartment rent, appliance repair and recreational activities like bowling. “What this score means is that Tampa metro’s housing, groceries, gas, clothing and health care costs are all lower than the national average,” said Randy Smith, director of research for the Tampa Hillsborough EDC.
