Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 13 of 20 categories
Orlando
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
Tampa
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Tampa, FL
Pros
47% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,509)
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Orlando
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Income
$510
$66,802 vs $66,292/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
47% lower
444.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 71.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Tampa leads 13 of 20 categories. Orlando wins 7 and Tampa wins 13. 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 Orlando to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($66,292 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Tampa, FL are about 80 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.