($1,509) Movers From Fort Collins, CO to Tampa, FL

What to know before moving from Fort Collins to Tampa

Moving from Fort Collins to Tampa comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Tampa is generally more expensive than Fort Collins, 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 10% higher than in Fort Collins, which means you’ll have less 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 31.6% lower than in Fort Collins.
• Income in Tampa is 3.2% higher than in Fort Collins, so you could earn more 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 51.0% higher than in Fort Collins. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Tampa, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Tampa is 69.1% higher than in Fort Collins.
• The unemployment rate in Tampa is 10.71% lower than in Fort Collins.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Tampa, since the city’s sales taxes in Tampa are 13.91% lower than in Fort Collins.
• One perk of moving to Tampa is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Fort Collins.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,530.84 in Tampa to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Fort Collins.

How life is different in Fort Collins vs. Tampa

• The population of Tampa is about 138% greater than Fort Collins, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Tampa offers better access to buses and trains than Fort Collins, based on public transportation ratings. Tampa has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 4 in Fort Collins. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Tampa means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Fort Collins. Tampa is considered more walkable than Fort Collins, with a score of 51 out of 100 versus 37 out of 100 in Fort Collins. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Tampa, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Fort Collins. While Fort Collins has a bike-friendliness score of 78 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.
• The crime rate in Tampa is higher than in Fort Collins, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 46.15 in Tampa, it is 17.0 in Fort Collins. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Tampa. With a crime index of 53.85, Tampa ranks lower in overall safety than Fort Collins, whose index is Fort Collins's 72.86. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Tampa and Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins 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