City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Phoenix and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 81 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,701 in Tampa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Phoenix is the easier city on typical rent, but Tampa can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Phoenix has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Phoenix and Tampa are 1,794 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $119 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $75,475 in Tampa, down $5,857 (7%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 93 in Tampa, down 81 points (47%).
The move
Tampa and Phoenix are 1,794 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $119 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $5,857 (8%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 174 in Phoenix, up 81 points (87%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 7% cheaper than Tampa
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Phoenix is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $119, or $1,428 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 Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Phoenix's median income is 8% higher than Tampa
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Phoenix (about $5,857 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
47% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 47% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 3% more comfortable than Phoenix
Phoenix
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa scores 3% 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 Phoenix 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
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix 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
Pick Tampa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Phoenix on this page's weather index by 3%. Phoenix 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 47% lower than Phoenix (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 43/100 in Phoenix, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $1,582. I would vet the exact ZIP in Phoenix before trading 19 safety points for housing savings.
With only $119 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,701 in Tampa.
If safety drives your move, Tampa is the stronger match (62/100 safety versus 43/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Phoenix, treat $1,582/month rent and $81,332 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Phoenix?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Phoenix when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Tampa, plus other cities in AZ and FL.
