Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,442 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $489k less ($333,200 vs $822,600)
39% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Los Angeles by $9,442/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$9,442
$76,244 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
39% lower
444.6 vs 728.5 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$489k less
$333,200 vs $822,600
Tampa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 6 and Tampa wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Los Angeles to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $333,200 median home), income ($76,244 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.