Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Commute Cost Index
If you’ve ever wondered what your commute is really costing you, Tampa’s housing market now has an answer. Eaton Realty’s new Commute Cost Index reveals how much homebuyers are paying (or saving) for every minute of drive time to downtown.
The results are eye-opening: in some neighborhoods, a single minute of commute time translates into more than $1 million in home value, while in others, you could drive nearly an hour and pay less than $6,000 per minute. This unique dataset puts a price tag on proximity and shows the true premium of living close to Tampa’s business core, and the savings for those willing to trade time for space.
From the luxury waterfront enclaves of Davis Islands to the affordable stretches of Zephyrhills and Wimauma, the map of Tampa’s “minute value” offers a fascinating new lens on how location, lifestyle, and commute intertwine.
Hillsborough County Commute Cost Index
Our Commute Cost Index measures how much buyers are paying in home value for each minute of drive time to downtown Tampa (ZIP 33602). It’s a simple yet revealing way to visualize the premium attached to a property’s proximity to the heart of the city.
| Zip | Average Sale | City | Driving Distance To 33602 (In Minutes) | Cost Per Minute Commute |
| 33602 | $1,071,251.52 | Tampa | 1 | $1,071,251.52 |
| 33606 | $1,761,726.24 | Tampa | 9 | $195,747.36 |
| 33609 | $1,464,223.78 | Tampa | 13 | $112,632.60 |
| 33629 | $1,558,430.03 | Tampa | 18 | $86,579.45 |
| 33603 | $563,216.26 | Tampa | 9 | $62,579.58 |
| 33613 | $881,339.99 | Tampa | 20 | $44,067.00 |
| 33604 | $384,378.00 | Tampa | 9 | $42,708.67 |
| 33611 | $804,240.50 | Tampa | 19 | $42,328.45 |
| 33548 | $730,853.86 | Lutz | 24 | $30,452.24 |
| 33618 | $642,684.84 | Tampa | 23 | $27,942.82 |
| 33605 | $300,252.11 | Tampa | 11 | $27,295.65 |
| 33556 | $1,055,938.88 | Odessa | 41 | $25,754.61 |
| 33578 | $412,148.63 | Riverview | 17 | $24,244.04 |
| 33612 | $336,381.83 | Tampa | 14 | $24,027.27 |
| 33592 | $599,245.17 | Thonotosassa | 25 | $23,969.81 |
| 33626 | $775,749.15 | Tampa | 33 | $23,507.55 |
| 33607 | $488,228.22 | Tampa | 21 | $23,248.96 |
| 33619 | $319,897.05 | Tampa | 14 | $22,849.79 |
| 33549 | $560,863.51 | Lutz | 25 | $22,434.54 |
| 33614 | $438,571.06 | Tampa | 20 | $21,928.55 |
| 33559 | $706,465.45 | Lutz | 33 | $21,408.04 |
| 33617 | $395,546.38 | Temple Terrace | 19 | $20,818.23 |
| 33584 | $411,623.63 | Seffner | 20 | $20,581.18 |
| 33511 | $445,425.26 | Brandon | 23 | $19,366.32 |
| 33637 | $347,717.73 | Temple Terrace | 18 | $19,317.65 |
| 33616 | $477,988.48 | Tampa | 25 | $19,119.54 |
| 33634 | $502,334.01 | Tampa | 27 | $18,604.96 |
| 33647 | $613,786.36 | Tampa | 33 | $18,599.59 |
| 33509 | $352,924.00 | Brandon | 19 | $18,574.95 |
| 33558 | $704,117.99 | Lutz | 38 | $18,529.42 |
| 33572 | $627,182.50 | Ruskin | 34 | $18,446.54 |
| 33610 | $320,862.37 | Tampa | 18 | $17,825.69 |
| 33510 | $390,383.73 | Brandon | 22 | $17,744.71 |
| 33625 | $504,232.76 | Tampa | 29 | $17,387.34 |
| 33615 | $515,306.78 | Tampa | 30 | $17,176.89 |
| 33624 | $504,405.80 | Tampa | 31 | $16,271.15 |
| 33569 | $459,598.99 | Riverview | 30 | $15,319.97 |
| 33527 | $535,572.26 | Dover | 35 | $15,302.06 |
| 33596 | $504,136.39 | Valrico | 33 | $15,276.86 |
| 33635 | $530,886.37 | Tampa | 35 | $15,168.18 |
| 34219 | $799,990.00 | Parrish | 54 | $14,814.63 |
| 33547 | $677,774.04 | Lithia | 46 | $14,734.22 |
| 33594 | $417,724.84 | Valrico | 31 | $13,474.99 |
| 33579 | $459,819.82 | Riverview | 36 | $12,772.77 |
| 33565 | $425,369.87 | Plant City | 34 | $12,510.88 |
| 33534 | $346,390.75 | Gibsonton | 28 | $12,371.10 |
| 33564 | $340,427.00 | Plant City | 28 | $12,158.11 |
| 33566 | $404,621.52 | Plant City | 37 | $10,935.72 |
| 33567 | $519,450.41 | Plant City | 50 | $10,389.01 |
| 33563 | $310,915.28 | Plant City | 34 | $9,144.57 |
| 33598 | $399,515.92 | Wimauma | 47 | $8,500.34 |
| 33570 | $381,561.86 | Ruskin | 49 | $7,786.98 |
| 33573 | $332,796.92 | Ruskin | 44 | $7,563.57 |
| 33810 | $300,000.00 | Lakeland | 43 | $6,976.74 |
| 33540 | $288,000.00 | Zephyrhills | 51 | $5,647.06 |
Index Insights
- Downtown Tampa (33602) tops the list as the most expensive commute, where you’re paying $1,071,251 per minute of commute. Residents here pay over a million dollars to be within a minute of the city center.
- Davis Islands (33606) follows as the second most expensive commute at $195,747 per minute, showing the “island premium” for waterfront proximity to downtown.
- Zephyrhills (33540) leads in affordability: You’re spending $5,647 per minute of commute, which is about 190× cheaper per minute than downtown Tampa.
- Lakeland (33810) and Ruskin/Wimauma (33570–33598) also offer strong value for buyers willing to drive 40-50 minutes.
- The price-per-minute curve drops sharply beyond the 20-minute mark. In other words, buyers are paying exponentially more to live within 15 minutes of downtown.
- ZIP codes between 33602 and 33609 form a luxury ring around downtown (waterfront, historic, and highly walkable neighborhoods) where price premiums are steepest.
- Once you cross the 40-minute threshold, price per minute stabilizes under $10,000, which signals that commute tolerance caps out around that point for most buyers.
The Index Is Not A Full Measure Of Costs or Savings
It’s important to note that while the index can be useful to understand the cost of a home relative to the commute, it’s not a full measure of total living costs or true savings. Our index doesn’t account for:
- Fuel, maintenance, or toll expenses you’ll incur if you commute daily from farther away.
- The personal or professional cost of your time spent on the road.
- The frequency of your commute.
- The value of other neighborhood factors, such as schools, amenities, or lifestyle perks that influences pricing beyond simple distance.
In short, this index isolates one powerful dimension: how much proximity alone drives price. It’s a lens, not a verdict. Living farther out may save you on housing, but over the years of commuting, those savings can be offset by time and transportation costs.
Is It More Expensive To Live In Tampa or Commute To Tampa?
There are many factors to weigh when trying to determine what city or neighborhood in Hillsborough County would be best for your budget. As illustrated by the index above, the further you venture outside of Tampa, the cheaper homes are. However, the price of homes isn’t the only thing that goes down the further outside of Tampa you venture. The overall cost of living (from utilities to groceries) also tends to be cheaper. As an example, the overall cost of living in Plant City is 7% less than in Tampa.
If you do need to commute regularly to Tampa, your commuting costs have to be factored into the equation. It’s great if you’re saving money on your home and other living necessities, but your costs may even out when you factor in gas and time spent commuting. One study conducted by LendingTree found that Tampa commuters lose an average of around $5,000 a year commuting to the office. If you don’t have to commute to Tampa regularly, or you only plan to live in the area for a few years, then you absolutely will save money living further from the metro area. However, if you have to commute daily, those costs can add up over several years to offset the savings from a more affordable home.
There is no doubt that living in Tampa is more expensive than living in one of the suburbs of Tampa, but the premium exists for a reason. Living in Tampa provides you with a shorter commute and easy access to entertainment, top-tier dining, and the Tampa Bay. Whether or not this premium makes sense for you to pay depends on your lifestyle, your home preferences, and how often you need to be in Tampa. A seasoned Realtor familiar with the Hillsborough County market can help you determine where you might get the best bang for your buck based on your needs and preferences.
If you’re weighing the pros and cons of living in various Hillsborough County cities, then you may also be interested in our pros and cons articles that break down the benefits and drawbacks of each city:
- Pros and cons of living in Tampa
- Pros and cons of living in Plant City
- Pros and cons of living in Riverview
- Pros and cons of living in Brandon
- Pros and cons of living in Lithia
- Pros and cons of living in Apollo Beach
- Pros and cons of living in Gibsonton
- Pros and cons of living in Temple Terrace
Find The Right Neighborhood For You In Hillsborough County With Eaton Realty
Finding the right place to call home can be challenging. Searching through thousands of available homes, scheduling tours, and writing offers can seem like a daunting series of tasks. Fortunately, finding your next home doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult. Working with an experienced Tampa Realtor who knows the Hillsborough County market and takes the time to understand your needs and budget can help you quickly narrow in on the right house for you.
Our Realtors can help you balance commute times, budget, and home preferences to find an affordable house you’d be happy to call home. You can speak with an Eaton Realtor by pressing the live chat button, filling out a contact form, or calling (813) 672-8022. We look forward to answering any questions you may have and helping you start your home search.
