City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Tampa is significant: $123,860 median household versus $75,475. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle 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. Seattle 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. Tampa at $1,701 average has pockets that run $1,501 and others at $2,101: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Seattle and Tampa are 2,526 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $329 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $75,475 in Tampa, down $48,385 (39%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 93 in Tampa, down 159 points (63%).
The move
Tampa and Seattle are 2,526 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $329 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $123,860 in Seattle, up $48,385 (64%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 252 in Seattle, up 159 points (171%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Tampa rent is 16% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Tampa is 16% 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 $3,948, 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 Seattle.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
64% higher
Seattle's median income is 64% higher than Tampa
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 64% higher in Seattle (about $48,385 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, Seattle 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
63% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 63% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°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 39% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 64% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 16% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle 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 63% lower than Seattle (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
Seattle carries the heavier crime signal on this page (32/100 safety vs 62/100 in Tampa). That 30-point spread matters more than the $329 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Tampa rent at $1,701/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Seattle and 75°F in Tampa.
Pick Tampa when you want the stronger safety signal (62/100). Otherwise, Seattle's case rests on a Seattle ZIP you trust at $2,030 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Tampa, plus other cities in WA and FL.
