Living in Tampa
Tampa is a great place to live and work. The cost of living is moderately low. The weather is nice during fall, winter and spring, but very hot and muggy during the summer. Tampa, Florida’s cost of living is 5% lower than the national average. There are factors to consider when deciding if Tampa is a good place to live. The climate is warm and humid, which may not suit everyone. However, the city offers entertainment and activities. There are museums, parks, attractions and professional sports teams. Jobs and career opportunities in Tampa have increased over the past ten years as businesses have moved into the area. The median age is 35. It’s a balance of city life and charm where downtown and suburbs are within 30 minutes. Tourism has boomed with new restaurants and waterfront development. Traffic can be bad at peak times. The beaches are large, clean and have parking.
Tampa can be a great destination if the climate and sunshine lifestyle appeals most to you. It’s a fun and lively city with tremendous family-friendly neighbourhoods and areas where retirees love to live. Living in Tampa gives you a true Floridian lifestyle without the costs of living in Miami.
However, if you don’t like the thought of part-time residents, tourists, and spring-breakers descending on your hometown during the winter. Tampa might not be the right place for you. Lots of bugs and alligators are part of being in a warm, humid subtropical climate. Roaches, palmetto bugs, biting midges, and mosquitos are all common in the area. And don’t forget that calling Florida home is a 1 million-plus alligator population.
Negatives of Living in Tampa
If you’re contemplating living there, lots of festivals, recreational opportunities, culinary options, job opportunities, and high-quality education, among other perks, await you. You may, however, need to deal with the negatives, including tropical storms, poor public transportation, and hefty home purchase fees.
Summers can get very hot and humid, which can be uncomfortable. You will need a good air conditioner to get through the summer months.
Median income in Tampa is below the national average and due to high property prices, many people in the region struggle to make a decent living in the Tampa region.
In general, Tampa is safer than Orlando, with a violent crime rate just half that of Orlando’s. The city of Orlando has 4,800 property crimes per 100,000 people compared to 1,600/100k in Tampa. Overall, Orlando has 3x more reported crime than Tampa! The average salary in Tampa is about $63,000 annually. This number has been seeing an average increase of about 2.1% year over year as it keeps up with the changing Tampa market.