Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories
Miami
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
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.
Miami, FL
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Median income trails Tampa by $11,944/yr
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($333,200 vs $433,900)
6% less violent crime than Miami
Households earn $11,944 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Income
$11,944
$66,802 vs $54,858/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
6% lower
444.6 vs 473.3 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$101k less
$333,200 vs $433,900
Tampa
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 71.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories. Miami 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 Miami to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $333,200 median home), income ($54,858 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Tampa, FL are about 206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.