City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Tampa and St Louis split most clearly. Tampa scores 259 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 $997 in St Louis.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Tampa and St Louis are 862 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $997 a month in St Louis, down $704 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $56,160 in St Louis, down $19,315 (26%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 352 in St Louis, up 259 points (278%).
The move
St Louis and Tampa are 862 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $704 a month (71%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $75,475 in Tampa, up $19,315 (34%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 93 in Tampa, down 259 points (74%).
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tampa and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
St Louis rent is 41% cheaper than Tampa
Tampa
$1,701/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,701 in Tampa, so St Louis is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $704/month back in your pocket ($8,448/year). Over five years that's $42,240 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Tampa, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Tampa's median income is 34% higher than St Louis
Tampa
Winner$75,475
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Tampa (about $19,315 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
74% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 74% lower than St Louis
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tampa scores 25% 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 St Louis 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 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 34% 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 74% lower than St Louis (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 St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Tampa: Tampa scores 62/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,701 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 40 safety points for housing savings.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Pick Tampa when you want the stronger safety signal (62/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
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 Tampa and St Louis, plus other cities in FL and MO.
