Tampa is the best place to live than Anaheim. Residents in Tampa enjoy a great education system, low prices, and an exceptional job market. On the contrary, Anaheim is a beautiful tourist destination, but the expenses and unemployment rate are higher.
Tampa is part of the “Tampa Bay Area,” a metropolitan area in Florida. It is also the economic capital of western Florida, located on an inlet that stretches deep onto the state’s west coast.
The metropolis is best known for its tourist attractions, particularly Busch Gardens, which combines the thrills of an amusement park with the excitement of a zoo in one location.
Anaheim is known to have a wealthy economy. Many of the population work in one of the adjacent metros. Anaheim has several excellent neighborhoods with grand homes and nice yards with flowers and well-trimmed plants.
Tampa and Anaheim are great places to move to, yet Tampa offers better advantages to its residents.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Anaheim vs. Tampa?
Tampa is an excellent place to move to, with outstanding educational institutions and a more substantial job market except for its frequent hurricanes. Anaheim, on the other hand, is a tourism hotspot. Even so, the cost of living is more expensive than Tampa’s.
Living in Tampa
Pros
- Great educational institutions
- Lower costs than Anaheim
- Better job market than Anaheim
- Festivals and family-friendly destinations
- Culinary destination
Tampa is home to Florida’s most outstanding educational institutions and academies.
The Hillsborough County School District, a well-known institution in the United States, serves the Tampa metro region. If you’re looking for a school of higher learning, you have alternatives you can pick from, like the University of Tampa and the University of Florida.
Tampa outperforms other American cities in this regard, even though it is not the cheapest city in the world.
Income tax is absent from Tampa’s and Florida’s lexicon for the first time. As a result, if you’re not the lavish sort, you may save a lot of money. When you factor in the city’s around 2% property tax rate, you get a feel of what it’s like to live in Tampa.
A home in Tampa costs far less than a home in most other American cities. In 2021, you can purchase a lovely property in Tampa for $220,000.
In comparison, Anaheim’s overall cost of living is more than 50% of Tampa’s.
The job market in Tampa is expanding somewhat faster than the national average. Individual average wages are slightly greater than national norms, but average family incomes are significantly lower.
Take a peek at Tampa’s downtown skyline. The buildings give the impression that this is a commercial city. The truth is that many families migrate to Tampa in search of appealing employment, even if it means earning less than they would in areas such as Austin.
The cultural diversity present in Tampa is a plus while looking for work. Because of the significant Spanish-speaking population, there are many more bilingual career possibilities than you’d find elsewhere.
Tampa has an unemployment rate of 4.30%, while Anaheim has a higher rate of 4.60%. Tampa has an undeniably better job market than Anaheim.
The top industries in Tampa are finance, technology, healthcare, and the supply chain.
Tampapolooza, the Sunset Music Festival, and the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival are among the most popular festivals in Tampa.
The Gasparilla Pirate Fest is to look forward to if you enjoy pirates. This celebration is akin to a Mardis Gras in the Tampa Bay region.
Tampa is also a fantastic vacation for families. A visit to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa provides youngsters with a one-of-a-kind experience, whether it’s a midnight stay or feeding the giraffes. Busch Gardens is only a short distance away, offering thrills for the entire family.
The creation of the Cuban sandwich is Tampa’s claim to fame in the culinary world. You’ll find lots to enjoy here in the city, but there are also plenty of ethnic culinary alternatives to discover after you settle here.
There is a range of Latin-inspired restaurants and food trucks, farm-to-table eateries, and locally-owned wonders to choose from in the city. You’ll also be able to dine at your favorite chain and corporate restaurants.
Cons
- Poor public transit
- Hurricanes
A city’s public transportation system is only as good as its infrastructure. Even if you have a car, it is not impervious to failures. Consider waking up one morning to discover that your automobile won’t start.
If your automobile breaks down in Tampa, there is no reliable public transportation. No train service transports people and products between the city’s core and its outskirts. You’ll either need to possess a car or hire a cab if you live far from the center of the town.
While Tampa isn’t entirely immune to storms, it isn’t completely free of them either. Because it is a seaside town, hurricanes may strike without notice, and flooding is not unusual. It pays to acquire flood insurance if you own a property in Tampa.
After you’ve obtained adequate insurance coverage, you’ll want to be extra cautious, particularly throughout June through November. A storm might impact Florida at that time.
In the case of a storm, weather reporters will usually sound an alarm to alert you to evacuate your home ahead of time.
Living in Anaheim
Pros
- Shopping spots
- Dining options
- Similar climate to Los Angeles
- Terrific schools
- Disneyland and Yorba Regional Park
There’s no need to travel to Beverly Hills or Los Angeles to shop when there are many excellent stores in and near Anaheim.
Many great shopping malls, such as the Anaheim GardenWalk shopping center, are within a short distance from Disneyland and provide a variety of restaurants and entertainment in addition to shopping.
The Outlets of Orange offer a variety of bargains from retailers such as Adidas, Nike, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th. There’s also a day spa and an IMAX movie theater, AMC Orange 30.
Anaheim has a diverse range of dining alternatives, from inexpensive street cuisine to fine dining places. You’ll discover both familiar and strange flavors from all over the world.
The Anaheim Packing District is one of the most incredible spots to eat or drink. There are two floors of gastronomic bliss here, each presenting a different type of cuisine. Waffle dogs, fish and chips, handmade ice cream, squeezed juice, plus Indian, Syrian, and Japanese cuisine are all available.
If you love Los Angeles’ climate and its proximity to the beaches, Anaheim offers the same. Anaheim has an environment comparable to the rest of the Los Angeles metro region.
The weather is pleasant due to its proximity to the shore. Anaheim’s spring and summer seasons are mild. The average summer temperature is in the 80s.
Anaheim only gets 35 days of rain or snow each year, making it a fantastic area to live in if you don’t like the rain or snow.
There are seventy-four public schools in Anaheim and many private institutions, including Fairmont Preparatory Academy. The #1 high school in California and #11 nationwide is Oxford Academy (Anaheim Union High School District), which is in Anaheim.
Private schools such as Acaciawood Preparatory Academy, Cornelia Connelly High School, Fairmont Preparatory Academy, and Servite High School are all in Anaheim, which offers six alternative education schools.
The majority of people associate Anaheim with Disneyland. With short journeys to Los Angeles, the Pacific beaches, and much more, its central position offers endless activities. There are plenty of entertaining things to do in addition to being home to the Magic Kingdom.
Yorba Regional Park provides bike trails, four lakes, many playgrounds, and 400 picnic tables. This park is also a great place to stretch your legs, relax, exercise, or go out in nature if you’re looking for a break from the usual metropolitan attractions.
Cons
- Expensive than Tampa
- Huge crowd everywhere
If you want to save money, Anaheim is not the best place for you. The city ranked one of the five worst locations to live in the USA.
Not only is California one of the most expensive states in the US to live in, but Anaheim’s proximity to Los Angeles and many popular attractions makes it a popular tourist destination and attractive city, which explains its high pricing.
Anaheim is less expensive than other major cities in the United States, such as New York, London, and Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the city is more than 50% more costly than Tampa.
Anaheim is a tiny city of 50.88 square miles with over 350,000 people. The town isn’t among the most significant metropolis. Nonetheless, the city attracts thousands of tourists each year, making it crowded.
This overcrowding has a massive influence on traffic both within the city and throughout the county. The municipality is car-dependent, and its proximity to Los Angeles exacerbates the issue.
Anaheim or Tampa – Which is more expensive?
Anaheim’s overall living costs are 52.0% more than Tampa’s. Housing expenses in Anaheim are much higher than in Tampa, at 170.9% more. As a result, Anaheim is more expensive.
| Living expenses | Anaheim | Tampa |
| Housing | 257.1% | 94.9% |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5% | 105.1% |
| Health | 95.9% | 98.5% |
| Utilities | 97.4% | 96.3% |
| Transportation | 118.0% | 112.1% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing
Housing expenses in Anaheim are 170.9% higher than in Tampa. Anaheim’s median home price is $571,528, while Tampa’s median home price is only $266,843.
Food & Groceries
Anaheim’s food and grocery prices are also more costly than in Tampa. 1lb of oranges in Tampa is only $1.81, compared to $2.19 in Anaheim.
Health
Healthcare costs in Tampa are 2.6% cheaper than in Anaheim. In Anaheim, a doctor’s appointment may cost $108, whereas it only costs $107 in Tampa.
Utilities
The utility costs in Tampa are more affordable than in Anaheim. Compared to Anaheim, an internet bill in Tampa can only cost you $65.39 per month. In Anaheim, it can cost $73.25 monthly.
Transportation
Tampa’s transportation fees are also less pricey. A monthly pass in a local transit cost around $69.00 in Anaheim. Meanwhile, it only costs $65.00 in Tampa.
Is Anaheim bigger than Tampa?
Tampa is 3.45 times more extensive than Anaheim, with a land area of 175.8 mi². In addition, Tampa has a larger population and a better economy than Anaheim.
Tampa is 3.45 times the size of Anaheim in terms of geographical area.
Tampa has a land area of 175.8 mi² and, as of 2022, has a denser population of 2,945,000. On the contrary, Anaheim has a smaller land area of 50.88 mi² with 350,986 residents.
Besides geographical area and population, Tampa has a better economy than Anaheim. In December 2021, Tampa had an unemployment rate of 4.30%, while Anaheim’s unemployment rate was 4.60%.
Although both cities have an impressive economy, Anaheim heavily depends on its tourism industry.
Therefore, Tampa is more extensive than Anaheim in population, economy, and area size.
Is Tampa safer than Anaheim?
Tampa is slightly safer than Anaheim. Tampa has a safety scale of 52.13, while Anaheim only has 46.76. Furthermore, Anaheim’s crime index is marginally higher than Tampa’s.
Tampa has a safety scale of 52.13; compared to Anaheim’s 46.76, Tampa is marginally safer.
Anaheim’s crime index is slightly higher than Tampa’s. The crime index in Anaheim is 53.24, while Tampa’s is only 47.87.
One in every thirty-nine people in Anaheim is your possibility to become a victim of property crime. However, it is one-in-29 in Tampa.
As a result, Tampa is safer than Anaheim.
Is Anaheim hotter than Tampa?
Tampa’s yearly average high temperature is 90°F with longer summers. Meanwhile, Anaheim has a lower average annual high temperature of 85°F. Tampa is, hence, hotter than Anaheim.
Summers in Tampa are lengthy, hot, humid, rainy, and largely overcast, while winters are brief, chilly, windy, and partially cloudy. The temperature ranges typically from 52°F to 90°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 38°F or rising over 94°F.
Summers in Anaheim are short, hot, and dry, while winters are lengthy, cold, and sometimes dark. Temperatures usually range from 46°F to 85°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 39°F or exceeding 94°F.
Although Tampa only has an annual average of 246 sunny days compared to Anaheim’s 280 average sunny days. The temperature in Tampa is longer.
You will likely experience the maximum temperatures in Tampa from May to early October. In comparison, maximum temperatures in Anaheim happen only from mid-June to October.
Hence, Tampa is hotter than Anaheim.
Is Anaheim better than Tampa?
Anaheim is the city for you if you prefer to live in a town rich in tourism and excellent schools. In contrast, Tampa is for those seeking lower costs and a safer environment with a more robust job market than Anaheim.
In Tampa, you’ll find a plethora of festivals, recreational activities, gourmet selections, work prospects, and high-quality education. However, you may have to cope with the drawbacks, such as tropical storms, limited public transit, and high humidity.
On the other hand, Anaheim offers a robust economy with excellent schools and a less hot climate. However, the city’s job market and safety scale are lower than Tampa’s. Additionally, living in Anaheim is more costly.
Thus, considering these factors, living in Tampa is better than in Anaheim.
Anaheim versus Tampa – Where do you consider moving? Let me know your thoughts below.