Philadelphia vs Tampa
Compare Philadelphia, PA and Tampa, FL on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,347/mo in Philadelphia and $1,377/mo in Tampa, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,737/mo and $1,851/mo. State income tax also separates them — Tampa's rate is roughly 0% versus 3.1%. Across the four public-data screens Philadelphia comes out ahead (266 vs 252 summed points), though Tampa still wins specific categories below.
Climate is a real differentiator: Philadelphia runs summer highs near 87°F and winter lows near 26°F, while Tampa runs 91°F and 52°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Philadelphia; if walkable daily life matters more, Philadelphia screens stronger on the walkability proxy (41 vs 6). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Tampa leads 70 to 66 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Philadelphia leads 50 to 43 on the daily life screen.
Philadelphia leads 71 to 59 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Philadelphia is roughly $101,776 in Tampa using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia | Tampa | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,347/mo | $1,377/mo | Philadelphia |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,737/mo | $1,851/mo | Philadelphia |
| Median home value | $305,000 | $273,000 | Tampa |
| State income tax | 3.1% | None | Tampa |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 30.1 min | Tampa |
| Safety score | 66/100 | 54/100 | Philadelphia |
| School score | 7/10 | 5/10 | Philadelphia |
| Walkability estimate | 41/100 | 6/100 | Philadelphia |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 180.5 | 170.2 | Philadelphia |
| Mountain distance | 19 mi | 418 mi | Philadelphia |
| Coast distance | 4 mi | 2 mi | Tampa |
What stands out
Philadelphia stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 24 miles
- Named beach within 30 miles
Philadelphia tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Tampa stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Named beach within 9 miles
Tampa tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Philadelphia cheaper than Tampa?
On public benchmarks Philadelphia is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,347/mo in Philadelphia vs $1,377/mo in Tampa; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,737/mo vs $1,851/mo; state income tax is 3.1% vs 0%.
Is Philadelphia or Tampa safer?
Philadelphia screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 66/100 for Philadelphia and 54/100 for Tampa (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Philadelphia or Tampa?
School screens show 7/10 for Philadelphia vs 5/10 for Tampa, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Philadelphia and Tampa?
Philadelphia: summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 26°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Tampa: 91°F / 52°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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