Why Florida is so attractive among those who are moving? There are only two seasons in Florida — one when it rains, and another when it doesn’t. But, regardless of the season, it is never cold, even the rain is warm and short. All year round citizens wear shorts with a t-shirt and wear flip-flops, even when the rain pours like a bucket. You can forget about jackets, sweaters and warm tights. True, the locals like to wear boots in winter, but this is more due to fashion. The air is filled with exotic smells of flowers, herbs and spices. Everything around is literally saturated with water. Just take three steps and you can get lost among the coconut trees densely intertwined with lianas, without even getting out into the mangrove forests in the South. As you know Florida has some good places to move to.  Orlando vs Tampa? Today we are here to compare Orlando with another popular city for moving-Tampa and help you decide which of them will be a better fit for you and your lifestyle.

Why Orlando vs Tampa

Tampa seems to be much better for young singles, however, in the surrounding areas is older, there are lots of the retired older generation. Tampa seems to have a cultural edge on Orlando, however. Orlando is new, very touristy, a lot more transients, the economy is based on tourism and the service industry. There is a lot of growth and sprawl. Downtown is revitalizing. We’ll make all clear Orlando vs Tampa.

If your top priority is being close to beaches, Tampa is probably better – because many prefer the Gulf beaches. Although Orlando is about an hour’s drive to the east-central Florida beaches like Daytona, New Smyrna, and Cocoa Beach. But there’s a big difference between the Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches. We propose you have a look at the pros and cons and make your personal choice what is better for you.

Tampa

Tampa is more practical and family-oriented than Miami. The people are a bit less loud, pleasant and friendly with a strong pride in the community.

Tampa advantages

• Tampa is a very up and coming area at the moment
• Africa-themed amusement park Busch Gardens
• Easy drive entrance to Orlando
• Affordable renting and housing
• One of the safest cities in Florida according to alarms.org.
• Lively Tampa neighbourhoods close to the bay

Tampa disadvantages

• Busy traffic during rush hours
• Some communities are powered by HOA

Orlando

Orlando is an excellent choice if you are planning to move to Florida. Orlando, known as “the theme park capital of the world”, is home to Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. Stepping outside your door will make you feel like you are on a permanent tropical vacation. The cost of living in Orlando is about 3% lower than the average Florida cost of living.

Orlando advantages

• Sunny weather all year round
• Affordable housing
• Major travel hub
• Sports and recreational opportunities
• Quality education and job opportunities
• Close to nature
• A heaven place for foodies
• Disney Land

Orlando disadvantages

• A lot of tourists
• Traffic is a real problem
• Bugs and critters

Read the people’s experience of living in both Orlando vs Tampa:

Dave Crane, lives in Tampa, FL

I would say it depends on what you mean by “living in”. Are you planning on being a part-time resident who spends the winter in Florida (“Snowbird”) or are you planning on living here full time? I am of the latter type and live in Tampa (though I visit Orlando all the time)
My opinion as follows:

1. Entertainment: Obviously Orlando really takes the cake over Tampa. Tampa has only one “modest” theme park (Busch Gardens) where Orlando has Universal and Disney which are orders of magnitude larger and parks like Aquatica on the side. The Orlando area also offers a hell of alot if side tourist attractions like Dolphin Cove or Medieval Times. There are even more and higher quality nerd destinations like Cloak and Blaster or Gods n Monsters. Orlando gets better conventions like Spooky Empire. Tampa just cannot compare (though we do try)
2. Traffic: Despite what many might say about drivers in Tampa, traffic through Orlando is an awful nightmare. Traffic volume is high and main roads are limited. The roads and highways around downtown are poorly maintained as well. In addition, roads are tangled and confusing and Google maps will not always help you (try finding something on Colonial Road and you will see what I mean). This can make a daily commute very stressful. Public transportation is virtually nonexistent in both cities. Point to Tampa.
3. Employment: If you want to be a server, operate a ride, or work in a hotel then Orlando is your place. If you are an office professional or tech engineer then 9 out of 10 jobs are in Tampa. Quite a few people commute from Clermont (near Orlando) to Tampa for work….that’s a 90-minute commute. Point to Tampa.
4. Shopping: If you are gift shopping, absolutely Orlando has better malls and more access to stores. Prices are much higher across the board in Orlando. Finding a grocery store is incredibly difficult. Tampa has lots of local markets and grocery stores not to mention plenty of Trader Joes and Aldi and the like.
5. Housing: Orlando seems to have two tiers of housing – outrageously expensive homes and hidden slums well off the beaten path (which are not inexpensive either). Feels like there is little room for a middle class in Orange County. Conversely, Tampa has a plethora of affordable housing at a variety of income levels. As you can see Tampa has the edge for day to day living.
6. Beaches/Ocean: Orlando is in a swamp in the middle of the state where Tampa is on the coast. Granted the best beaches are not in Tampa they are in our adjacent county of Pinellas, however that’s a trip of minutes.
   

Grant Miller, lives in Tampa, FL

I’ve lived in both and have loved neither. They are roughly the same. They’re smallish cities/largeish towns. In Florida.
Traffic is worse in Orlando, but late-night food is much more varied and better in Orlando.
Tampa has a better airport, but Orlando has more direct flights.
Sure. Orlando has more theme parks, but most Orlandoans I’ve known avoided the parks because tourists/traffic. Unless they worked there. Orlando has tourists. Tampa doesn’t.
Tampa is closer to the ocean, but it’s the gulf. So it’s kinda like a huge swimming pool. Orlando is closer to the Atlantic, an actual ocean.
Tampa has more sports, football, baseball, and hockey and a lot of spring training sites are clustered nearby.
Both have been labeled The Next Big Thing for decades. Neither are.

Richard Basen, lived in Tampa, FL (1996-2019)

Orlando is very touristy but also being in the center of the state, is about an hour to a beach. Tampa is an older town but huge on sports and Cuban food. Both have good schools, Tampa has USF and Stetson law. Orlando has the biggest theme parks, Universal, Disney. And employs a lot of people there. Tampa has One main park, Busch Gardens.

Tyler Liermann, lives in Orlando, FL

Lived in both.
I personally enjoyed living in Tampa (near the USF area) more, but being in Orlando for four years now full time, Orlando has certainly grown on me.
Neural:
-You get the central FL feeling from both. Mostly flatland.
-Rush hour traffic is terrible in both.. Stay off I-4 in Orlando after 3 30 M-F. Stay off any of the St.Pete to Tampa bridges during that same time. It once took me 90 min to make a 16-mile trip due to traffic from St.Pete into Tampa bridge.
-The cost of living is pretty much the same. Orlando is likely a bit more with housing due to the demand being higher with the economy in decent shape.
-Both have good nightlife scenes. Including good live music venues. Your favorite big-name artist will likely stop in Orlando and/or Tampa on their tour. I’ve traveled both places (Orlando when living in Tampa, and Tampa when living in Orlando) for shows, drove back the same night.
Difference:
-The crime rate is a little higher in Orlando, especially the more central you go. But you should be fine long as you’re not wandering into areas you have no business being in.
-The big arenas: Amway Arena is in the top 12 nicest arenas in the world because it is a newer and more multi-use state of the art, but Amelie in Tampa is easier to get in and out of, more open parking surrounding it. Very friendly walking routes around it, backs up to the “Channelside” nightlife area.
All in all, depends on your overall needs. People are pretty much the same in both places. Both are a 90 min drive from one another, went to Busch Gardens or to a concert in Tampa and drove back right after.

Moving Advice

Millions dream of spending a vacation in some exotic paradise, but the dream remains a dream. Many people find time and money, pack their bags, spend hours in queues at airports, and get to the cherished corners in order to return in some 10-15 days… The smartest ones just move to Florida. So, now that you know what to expect from both cities, will your new home be in Orlando vs Tampa? In both areas, you have lots of wonderful cultural diversity and tons of things to do. So whatever the reason for your moving to Tampa or Orlando may be, choosing the right company to relocate can make your life easier. If you have already made your choice our team of professionals is ready to provide all the necessary services your unique relocation requires. Let us be the mediators that can help you to coordinate your fast and easy move to a new life. Get a free moving quote, use our moving cost calculator or contact us to know all the details.