($1,573) Movers From Oakland, CA to Tampa, FL

What to know before moving from Oakland to Tampa

Moving from Oakland to Tampa comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Tampa is generally more expensive than Oakland, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Tampa are 12% lower than in Oakland, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Tampa.
  Home prices in Tampa are 49.6% lower than in Oakland.
• Income in Tampa is 29.2% lower than in Oakland, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Tampa include Bloomin' Brands, Sykes Enterprises, and OSI Restaurant Partners.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Tampa, since the cost of living for a single person in Tampa is 2.7% higher than in Oakland. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Tampa is 5.5% lower than in Oakland.
• The unemployment rate in Tampa is 11.11% higher than in Oakland.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Tampa, since the city’s sales taxes in Tampa are 36.59% lower than in Oakland.
• One perk of moving to Tampa is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Oakland.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,082.01 in Tampa to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Oakland.

How life is different in Oakland vs. Tampa

• Tampa might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 8% less than Oakland.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Tampa will be about the same as it currently is in Oakland. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
• Tampa neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Oakland. Based on its score of 51 out of 100, Tampa isn’t as walkable as Oakland, which has a score of 75 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Tampa, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Oakland. While Oakland has a bike-friendliness score of 65 out of 100, Tampa earned a 51. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• Tampa has a lower crime rate than Oakland based on scores of 46.15 and Oakland's 68.62, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Tampa than in Oakland, based on Tampa’s safety index of 53.85 versus 31.38 for Oakland. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Tampa and Oakland is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Oakland vs. Tampa move

• Weather: Tampa's climate generally features hot and humid summers with frequent thunderstorms and dry and mild winters. Tampa seldom feels major effects from tropical storms or hurricanes.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Individuals and companies engaging in for-profit local and intrastate moving within the Sunshine State must register each year with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Consumer Services. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Florida moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Florida does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Tampa. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Released Value Protection stands out as a cost-effective choice, provided by movers at no extra expense, although it comes with limited coverage. In this option, the mover's liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. To ensure comprehensive coverage matching the full value of your items, consult with your chosen moving company about alternative options or explore third-party insurance providers. Secure the best protection for your belongings during the move with these tailored coverage choices.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Tampa

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Big Guava", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Tampa.

Helpful moving resources