City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Tampa and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Tampa and Orlando split most clearly. Tampa scores 149 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,701 in Tampa and $1,747 in Orlando.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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 Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tampa and Orlando are 77 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $46 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $72,336 in Orlando, down $3,139 (4%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 242 in Orlando, up 149 points (160%).
The move
Orlando and Tampa are 77 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $46 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $75,475 in Tampa, up $3,139 (4%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 93 in Tampa, down 149 points (62%).
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tampa and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Tampa rent is 3% cheaper than Orlando
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Tampa is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $46, or $552 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
4% higher
Tampa's median income is 4% higher than Orlando
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Tampa (about $3,139 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
62% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 62% lower than Orlando
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tampa and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°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
Tampa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($75,475). Start with Tampa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Orlando (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Orlando
On these five categories Tampa takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Orlando because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Orlando only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $46 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,701 in Tampa and $1,747 in Orlando.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tampa; Orlando only makes sense when you have walked the Orlando ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,747 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Orlando, plus other cities in FL.
