City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 93 in Tampa, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 112, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tampa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,701 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Tampa split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 31 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,701 in Tampa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tampa costs less and Virginia Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Tampa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Tampa are 722 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,701 a month in Tampa, down $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $75,475 in Tampa, down $17,493 (19%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 93 in Tampa, up 31 points (50%).
The move
Tampa and Virginia Beach are 722 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $17,493 (23%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 31 points (33%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Tampa rent is 1% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Tampa
Winner$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,701 a month in Tampa versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Tampa is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $13, or $156 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
23% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 23% higher than Tampa
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Tampa
$75,475
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $75,475 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Virginia Beach (about $17,493 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, Virginia Beach 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
33% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 33% lower than Tampa
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Tampa
93 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 93 in Tampa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Tampa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 20% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°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 20% 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Tampa (62 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
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 1% 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 Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 20%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Tampa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Tampa carries the heavier crime signal on this page (62/100 safety vs 75/100 in Virginia Beach). That 13-point spread matters more than the $13 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $75,475 in Tampa — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
If safety drives your move, Virginia Beach is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 62/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Tampa, treat $1,701/month rent and $75,475 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Virginia Beach and 75°F in Tampa.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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