City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 168 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Philadelphia at $1,397 average has pockets that run $1,197 and others at $1,797: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Tampa are 928 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $304 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $75,475 in Tampa, up $13,522 (22%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 93 in Tampa, down 168 points (64%).
The move
Tampa and Philadelphia are 928 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $304 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $13,522 (18%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 261 in Philadelphia, up 168 points (181%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 18% cheaper than Tampa
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Philadelphia is 18% 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 $3,648, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Tampa's median income is 22% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Tampa (about $13,522 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, Tampa is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
64% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 64% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 45% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa scores 45% 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($75,475), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 64% lower than Philadelphia (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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 62/100 in Tampa). That 31-point spread matters more than the $304 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,701 in Tampa.
Pick Tampa when you want the stronger safety signal (62/100). Otherwise, Philadelphia's case rests on a Philadelphia ZIP you trust at $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Tampa, plus other cities in PA and FL.
