($1,333) Movers From Wilmington, DE to Tampa, FL

What to know before moving from Wilmington to Tampa

Moving from Wilmington to Tampa means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Wilmington than in Tampa, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Wilmington compares to Tampa so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Tampa are 7% higher than in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington.
  Home prices in Tampa are 20.6% higher than in Wilmington.
• Income in Tampa is 35.4% higher than in Wilmington, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Tampa include Bloomin' Brands, Sykes Enterprises, and OSI Restaurant Partners.
• The cost of living for a single person in Tampa is 8.5% lower than in Wilmington. 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 86.4% higher than in Wilmington.
• The unemployment rate in Tampa is 51.46% lower than in Wilmington.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Tampa, since the city’s sales taxes in Tampa are 6.50% higher than in Wilmington.
• One perk of moving to Tampa is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Wilmington.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,744.41 in Tampa to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Wilmington.

How life is different in Wilmington vs. Tampa

• The population of Tampa is about 469% greater than Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, based on public transportation ratings. Tampa has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 6 in Wilmington. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Tampa neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Wilmington. Based on its score of 51 out of 100, Tampa isn’t as walkable as Wilmington, which has a score of 74 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.
• Tampa and Wilmington are similarly bike-friendly based on their comparable ratings of 51 and 52 respectively. Bike-friendliness scores between 50 and 100 indicate varying levels of infrastructure to support cyclists, including bike lanes and roadway connectivity. Cities with scores under 50 are considered more car-dependent.
• Tampa has a lower crime rate than Wilmington based on scores of 46.15 and Wilmington's 67.32, 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 Wilmington, based on Tampa’s safety index of 53.85 versus 32.68 for Wilmington. 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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