landable/cost of living comparison
vs

01 · the cities

Tampa

Tampa is the Cuban sandwich's other home (yes, there's a rivalry with Miami), with Ybor City's brick streets, rooster gangs, and cigar shops giving the city a flavor all its own. Bayshore Boulevard claims one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the country, perfect for sunset jogs. The beaches are a short drive west, the Lightning play hockey in the swamp, and the winters feel like other cities' best Aprils.

full dispatch

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.

full dispatch

02 · the money

Median rent

$1,996/mo

$1,819/mo

$177/mo less than Tampa (10%)

Median home price

$374k

$375k

State income tax

0%

5.8%

Gross left after rent

$6,337/mo

$6,035/mo

Tampa has $302/mo more gross after rent at $100k

Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.

03 · the weather

Pleasant days/yr

243 days

211 days

32 fewer than Tampa

Extreme heat days

3 days

1 days

days above 95°F per year

Extreme cold days

0 days

2 days

days below 20°F per year

Tampa edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.

04 · the life

OutdoorScore

62 / 100

57 / 100

5.0 pts behind Tampa

Walk Score®

92 / 100

88 / 100

Nonstop flights

68 routes

17 routes

51 fewer direct routes than Tampa

Metro size

3.3M metro

1.8M metro

Tampa has 1.6x more events per month than Virginia Beach.

the verdict

5

Tampa

categories won

of 9

1

Virginia Beach

categories won

Tampa wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.

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We use a proprietary blend of data from the US Census, Zillow, Ticketmaster, and more.

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