Tampa - FL vs Austin - TX: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Austin - TX is roughly 16% more expensive than Tampa - FL in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Austin - TX (60 days vs 41), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Tampa vs Austin: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,977 a month in principal and interest in Tampa and $2,295 in Austin, a gap of $318 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,991 in Tampa and $1,603 in Austin, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Tampa and 1.4 times rent in Austin, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 14.9 years of rent in Tampa and 21.5 in Austin; the lower ratio in Tampa means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -6.8% in Tampa and -9.8% in Austin; over just the last three months the change was -0.0% in Tampa and -0.1% in Austin.

Homes sell for 97.0% of list price in Tampa and 97.3% in Austin, after 41 and 60 days on the market, with price cuts on 31% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: Tampa has more price cuts and sales further below list, while Austin has longer time on the market.

The number of homes for sale is down 7% on a year ago in Tampa and down 3% on a year ago in Austin.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.