Tampa - FL vs Columbus - OH: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Tampa - FL is roughly 9% more expensive than Columbus - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Tampa - FL (41 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Columbus - OH sees more listings with price cuts (34.9% vs 31.3%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Tampa vs Columbus: 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 $1,811 in Columbus, a gap of $166 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,991 in Tampa and $1,525 in Columbus, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Tampa and 1.2 times rent in Columbus, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 14.9 years of rent in Tampa and 17.9 in Columbus; 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 +2.6% in Columbus; over just the last three months the change was -0.0% in Tampa and +0.4% in Columbus.

Homes sell for 97.0% of list price in Tampa and 99.4% in Columbus, after 41 and 14 days on the market, with price cuts on 31% and 35% of listings. The signs are mixed: Tampa has longer time on the market and sales further below list, while Columbus has more price cuts.

The number of homes for sale is down 7% on a year ago in Tampa and up 9% on a year ago in Columbus.

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.