City Of Tampa (File)If you are looking for an apartment in the Tampa Bay area, you have likely noticed that the price tags are getting heavier. A new analysis confirms that local housing costs are significantly higher than the national average. The data shows that the median rent in the Tampa metro area has reached $2,248 per month, making it the 14th-most-expensive large metropolitan area in the United States. The price of housing is rising faster than the cost of most other goods. READ: Freeze Alert: Tampa Bay Area Facing Frigid Weekend PlungeExperts say this is largely a result of basic supply and demand.