Orlando, FL vs Tampa, FL: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Tampa, FL is the higher-tax metro at 7.5%, versus 6.5% in Orlando, FL. The 1% gap works out to $1.00 on a $100 purchase, $10.00 on $1,000 and $250.00 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 1%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $10.00Paid in Tampa
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $250.00Vehicle-sized purchase
Orlando, FL
Orange County
6.5%
Combined rate · ranked #75 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Florida state | 6% |
| county | Orange County discretionary surtax | 0.5% |
- Population
- 320,742
- Median household income
- $69,268
Orange County's surtax is among the lowest in Florida, which is why Orlando is cheaper at the register than Tampa despite similar tourism volume.
Tampa, FL
Hillsborough County
7.5%
Combined rate · ranked #56 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Florida state | 6% |
| county | Hillsborough County discretionary surtax | 1.5% |
- Population
- 403,364
- Median household income
- $71,302
Florida's county surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of a single item of tangible personal property, so large purchases in Tampa are effectively taxed at 6%.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (1%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 1% of $1,000 is $10.00. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Orlando or Tampa?
Tampa, FL at 7.5%, versus 6.5% in Orlando, FL.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Tampa on a $1,000 purchase?
About $10.00 more, and roughly $250.00 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Orlando and Tampa have different rates?
The state share is 6% in FL and 6% in FL. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Orlando.