If you want to move to a diverse, metropolitan area near the beach, Tampa is the place to be. This vibrant city near the Gulf of Mexico isn’t just a place to live. It’s an entire experience every day. Before you head to “Cigar City”, take a look at these must-know tips for moving to the Tampa Bay area.
Getting Around
Luckily, Tampa Bay hosts two airports. Tampa International and St. Pete-Clearwater International are both easy to reach by car. Recently, Allegiant Airlines began offering flights at very low fares to other major cities out of PIE airport. This is useful if you are leaving behind family in other parts of Florida or other states, as it will be relatively inexpensive to go visit them. Sometimes, fares can be as low as 40 dollars!
Road traffic isn’t so glamorous in this part of the sunshine state. There are three major interstates in Tampa. I-4, I-75, and I-275 all become extremely congested during rush hour. It can be nearly impossible to get to and from work in a reasonable timeframe if you work far from home.
Alternatively, you can purchase a SunPass and take advantage of toll roads and expressways that bypass the majority of the backups.
Choosing the Right Neighborhood
Perhaps the most interesting part about Tampa is that there are so many different areas encompassed by the Tampa Bay area. You may want to choose what part of Tampa to live in based on the following factors.
Your income
Your job location
Which activities you prefer
As mentioned before, Tampa is very diverse. Each part of Tampa offers a unique experience, making this city an exciting place to live for those who love a fresh adventure!
While you will save money on rent by living farther from downtown, you need to strongly consider how far your commute will be. It is less expensive to live in North Tampa, Brandon, or Town ‘N’ Country. Downtown living will cost upwards of 1,000 dollars per month just for one bedroom. However, consider how valuable your time is and the cost of gas and you should be able to determine which area works best for your commute.
Fortunately, the large population of Tampa isn’t all bad. This many people in one area mean choices for everyone. Choices galore for restaurants, activities, and another perk, moving companies. The more companies in an area the lower prices tend to be. Florida grown choices like Suddath Tampa know the area well and have reasonable prices.
If you are a frequent flyer, you may want to live close to Tampa International. Nearby neighborhoods are Town ‘N’ Country, Oldsmar, and Westchase. Downtown is close, but travel times may be longer depending on traffic.
If you have kids, Busch Gardens is located between Temple Terrace and Greater Carrollwood. It was some of the best roller coasters in the state and is usually less busy than it’s Orlando cousins. SoHo offers bars and restaurants to nightlife lovers. If you love the beach, you can pop over to Clearwater and spend time next in the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Working in Tampa
Tampa offers both blue and white-collar jobs. It’s recommended that you know where you are going to be working before signing a lease on that perfect place. It’s hard to beat a short commute in a place where going 15 miles can take over an hour!
