City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Atlanta and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 104 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tampa is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Atlanta and Tampa are 417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $75,475 in Tampa, down $10,177 (12%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 93 in Tampa, down 104 points (53%).
The move
Tampa and Atlanta are 417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $10,177 (13%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 197 in Atlanta, up 104 points (112%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Tampa rent is 1% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Tampa is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Atlanta's median income is 13% higher than Tampa
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Atlanta (about $10,177 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. Tampa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
53% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 53% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Tampa. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Tampa is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,701 a month. Choose Tampa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tampa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta may pay more or cost less, but Tampa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Atlanta (93 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 39/100 in Atlanta). With rent tied near $1,701/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $75,475 in Tampa — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tampa; Atlanta only makes sense when you have walked the Atlanta ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,711 rent.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Atlanta and 75°F in Tampa.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Tampa, plus other cities in GA and FL.
