City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 65 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and Tampa wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Los Angeles has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Los Angeles and Tampa are 2,150 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $232 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $75,475 in Tampa, down $6,464 (8%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 93 in Tampa, down 65 points (41%).
The move
Tampa and Los Angeles are 2,150 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $232 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $6,464 (9%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 158 in Los Angeles, up 65 points (70%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Tampa rent is 12% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Tampa is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,784, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tampa still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Los Angeles.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 9% higher than Tampa
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Los Angeles (about $6,464 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 41% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Los Angeles can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% 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.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Los Angeles (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 46/100 in Los Angeles, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,933. I would vet the exact ZIP in Los Angeles before trading 16 safety points for housing savings.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $75,475), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $75,475 in Tampa.
Tampa clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Los Angeles deserves a serious look only when you already know the Los Angeles block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Tampa?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tampa when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Tampa, plus other cities in CA and FL.
