Moving from Memphis to Tampa?
Memphis to Tampa — both 0% tax states (TN/FL), 64% housing premium, beach lifestyle + healthcare.
- 880 mi Distance
- 13 hr Drive time
- -64% lower Home prices
- 246 Sun days/year
Memphis-to-Tampa is the rare 0%-tax-to-0%-tax move. Both TN and FL have no state income tax. Trade: 64% housing premium and 31% higher COL for Tampa Bay beaches, year-round 70°F+ climate, USF + healthcare careers, and Bucs/Lightning/Rays sports culture.
Why people move from Memphis to Tampa.
- Same 0% income tax — TN/FL both have no state income tax
- Tampa Bay beaches — Clearwater (top-rated), St. Pete Beach
- USF + healthcare careers (Tampa General, Moffitt Cancer Center)
- Citi Tampa + Raymond James (financial back office)
- Bucs/Lightning/Rays sports culture
- Year-round mild climate (similar to Memphis but more tropical)
- Less brutal crime than Memphis (Tampa suburbs particularly safe)
- Walkable historic neighborhoods (Hyde Park, Channel District)
The money side of TN → FL.
Memphis
- Median home$235,000
- Income tax0% (TN)
- Cost index78
Tampa
- Median home$385,000
- Income tax0% (FL)
- Cost index102
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Tampa, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Tampa Riverwalk — 2.4-mile downtown waterfront walk
- Clearwater Beach (45 min west) — Top US beach; sugar sand, Pier 60
- Honeymoon Island State Park — Causeway-accessible barrier island; shelling, beaches
- Sunken Gardens (St. Pete, 30 min) — 100-year-old botanical garden
Culture & Arts
- Ybor City — Historic Cuban-Italian district; cigars, Cuban sandwiches
- Tampa Museum of Art — Contemporary art, downtown
- Salvador Dalí Museum (St. Pete) — World's largest Dalí collection outside Spain
Family-Friendly
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — African-themed park with rollercoasters and animals
- Florida Aquarium — Downtown aquarium with sharks, otters
- Lowry Park (ZooTampa) — Manatees, Florida wildlife
Tampa's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Tampa resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Bern's Steak House Steakhouse South Tampa
1956 institution; world's largest wine list (700K+ bottles)
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Columbia Restaurant Spanish-Cuban Ybor City
1905; Florida's oldest restaurant; '1905 Salad'
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Rooster & The Till Farm-to-table Seminole Heights
James Beard nominated; small plates
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Ulele Native Floridian Tampa Heights (Riverwalk)
Indigenous Florida ingredients; brewery on site
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Edison: Food + Drink Lab American South Tampa
Chef Jeannie Pierola; modern American
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Mise en Place American University
Chef Marty Blitz; Tampa fine dining mainstay
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La Segunda Central Bakery Cuban bread/sandwiches Ybor City
Cuban bread bakery since 1915
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Cena Italian Hyde Park
Modern Italian, chef-driven
Best Tampa neighborhoods for Memphis transplants.
Mapped to the Memphis neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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Hyde Park
If Cooper-Young was your speed — walkable, restaurants, charming, family
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South Tampa / SoHo
If Downtown South Main was your vibe — walkable, restaurants, nightlife
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Channel District / Water Street
If Midtown Memphis was your speed — walkable downtown, lofts, restaurants
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Seminole Heights
If you wanted hip walkable — hip walkable, art, restaurants, breweries
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Westchase (suburb)
If Germantown master-planned was your model — master-planned, top schools, family
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Carrollwood
If East Memphis was your goal — established, walkable centers, family
What daily life feels like in Tampa.
Climate
Humid subtropical (effectively coastal). Hot, humid summers (75-90°F, May-Oct). Mild winters (54-72°F). Hurricane season June-November (Tampa has been lucky — 1921 was last major direct hit). 246 sun days/year.
- Summer75-91°F
- Winter54-72°F
- Sun days/yr246
- Rainfall47 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score51/100
- Transit Score33/100
- Bike Score56/100
Tampa is somewhat walkable in central neighborhoods, car-dependent in suburbs.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Hillsborough River — kayaking through downtown
- Bayshore Boulevard — 4.5-mile waterfront sidewalk (longest in US)
- Honeymoon Island / Caladesi Island state parks
- Clearwater Beach / Treasure Island / St. Pete Beach
- Tampa Bay — boating, fishing, sailing
- Robles Park / Lettuce Lake Park — alligator-spotting, paddleboarding
What changes about your daily life.
- Same 0% income tax — no change
- Housing 64% higher — $235K Memphis SFH becomes $385K Tampa SFH
- Cost of living 31% higher
- Climate stays humid subtropical (Tampa more tropical, year-round 70°F+)
- Hurricane risk arrives (Tampa Gulf Coast)
- Property insurance jumps significantly (Tampa coastal exposure)
- FedEx/AutoZone/St. Jude career arc disappears (Tampa healthcare/finance back office)
- Music heritage shrinks (Memphis blues/rock/soul birthplace)
- Memphis BBQ shrinks (Tampa has decent BBQ but smaller)
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 880 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$3,800-$7,000
- Container/PODS$2,800-$4,800
- DIY (26-ft truck)$2,000-$3,500
- Best monthsOct-Apr (avoid hurricane season + Southern summer)
- Lead time6-8 weeks ahead
USDOT-registered.
Moving from Memphis to Tampa: FAQ.
Why move if same 0% tax?
Lifestyle + climate. Tampa has beaches (Clearwater top-rated), year-round 70°F+, lower crime than Memphis. Career pivot from FedEx/AutoZone/St. Jude (Memphis-specific) to Tampa healthcare/finance back office (Tampa General, Moffitt, Citi, Raymond James). Net financial position negative on $100K but quality-of-life improves.
Will I miss Memphis BBQ?
Yes — Memphis dry-rub ribs are unique. Tampa has decent BBQ (4 Rivers, Holy Hog) but Memphis style is irreplicable. Many transplants visit annually for Charles Vergos' Rendezvous pilgrimages.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Memphis-to-Tampa move.
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