There’s several things we love about living in the Tampa Bay area! We’re close to some of the most famous beaches in the world and the weather is beautiful but there’s a downside to the area. From its exciting nightlife to gorgeous beaches, Tampa Bay offers the perfect balance of entertainment and natural beauty. However, like any place, there will be a few challenges that are strictly unique to life in Florida’s third-largest city. In this article we are going to discuss all the real pros and cons that come with living in the Tampa Bay area. So, if you’re looking to move to the beautiful state of Florida, scroll down to find out what’s really going on here.
Why is Tampa so amazing:
If you didn’t know, Tampa ranks #2 on the list of Florida family vacations! Out of 400 towns in Florida a recent study looked at hotel prices, number of restaurants, and amusement parks. Florida is undeniably one of the best vacation destinations in the entire world. There’s tons of reasons why Florida continues to attract millions of visitors every year. From its stunning beaches, vibrant cities and diverse wildlife there’s always something fun to do. They have thrilling theme parks and offer a wide range of attractions for anyone’s travel interests and preferences.
Why vacation in Florida? First and foremost, Florida is home to stunning beaches. There’s over 1,350 miles of coastline with pristine white sand, turquoise water, and extremely hot weather. One of the most famous places is Miami Beach to the very glamorous South Beach each one is amazing in it’s own way. The Gulf Coast beaches like Clearwater and Siesta Key are just as beautiful. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, there is a perfect beach for everyone. Visitors can enjoy different water activities like snorkeling, jet skiing, or just tanning in the hot sun.
Pros and Cons of Living in Tampa Bay:
Pro: Attractions and Theme Parks
Tampa is located just an hour away from some of the most famous amusement parks in the entire world. You can go to Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, Discovery Cove and Crayola World. There’s also Busch Gardens which is located in Tampa so you don’t need to drive to Orlando and deal with traffic.
Busch Garden’s is Tampa’s premiere theme park for more than 60 years.
Con: Tourists and Snowbirds
With more people moving to Tampa every single day locals have noticed traffic getting worse every day. Then mix in tourist who are always vacationing, all the snowbirds and it’s become a lot to deal with at times.
Pro: The Job Market
Tampa has a very strong economy, especially in healthcare, technology, tourism, and education. The healthcare industry thrives with Tampa General Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center, which gives many careers to medical professionals, researchers, and other staff. The technology industry is booming in Tampa with growing companies like Sykes Enterprises that offer positions in software development, IT support, and cybersecurity.
Con: Low Minimum Wage
Although the cost of living may be affordable, it does come at a price! The minimum wage in Tampa, Florida is lower compared to other major cities in the U.S. is now at $11 per hour starting in September 2023.
Pro: Cost Of Living
It seems like things are just getting more and more expensive every year! It’s important to save as much money as you can so you can retire one day! That’s just another reason why so many people are moving to Tampa Bay. Although, not every city in Florida is the same when it comes to finances and taxes moving to Tampa can save more money when you compare it to other big metropolitan cities.
Con: The Humidity
Tampa is super-hot right now! No really, we have a massive heat advisory, and it seems to be a daily thing. It feels like it’s 110 degrees outside so you can’t be outside too long at the moment.
Pro & Con: The Schools
Research is important here! Many schools like Hillsborough County aren’t just one of the top school districts in the Tampa area, it’s one of the best in the country! However, there are many pockets of bad schools in Tampa Bay so it’s important you do a lot of research before moving to one specific area.
