Essentials
- City
- Tampa, Florida, United States
- Population
- Approximately 398,000 (City), 3.2 million (Metro)
- Internet Speed
- Average 250-500 Mbps via Spectrum or Frontier Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe, though many residents prefer filtered water for taste
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. Prepaid plans from $40/month
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, or traditional accounts with a passport and local address
- Accommodation
- High-end apartments in Water Street, bungalows in Seminole Heights
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Landing (furnished apartments), Sentral on Franklin ($2,400+/mo)
- Budget Accommodation
- Gram's Place Hostel ($50/night), Red Roof Inn ($90/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ybor City for history/nightlife or Downtown/Channelside for proximity to attractions
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Hyde Park (walkable, leafy) or Seminole Heights (trendy, coffee shops)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Industrious Tampa (401 E Jackson St) - ~$400/mo; CoCreativ ($25 day pass)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Buddy Brew Coffee (2020 W Kennedy Blvd) - Fast WiFi, ample seating
- Networking Events
- Tech on the Tap (Monthly meetups), Tampa Bay Tech events
- Social Events for Expats
- Tampa Bay Newcomers and Neighbors, Internations Tampa Chapter
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft (Widely available 24/7)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Coast Bike Share, Lime and Bird electric scooters ($1 to start + $0.39/min)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Clearwater Beach or Honeymoon Island (approx. 35-45 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Silver Airways (Flights to Key West, Bahamas)
- Top International Airline
- Delta, American Airlines, British Airways (Direct to London LHR)
- Highway Access
- I-275 (North/South), I-4 (East to Orlando), Selmon Expressway (Toll)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tampa Union Station (Amtrak); Marion Transit Center (Bus)
- Public Transport Passes
- HART Flamingo Fares - $4.00 for a Day Pass, $65 for a Monthly Pass
- Regional Travel
- Cross Bay Ferry to St. Petersburg ($12 one way); Brightline (High-speed rail to Miami nearby in Orlando)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Tampa General Hospital (1 Tampa Gen Cir) - Nationally ranked
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lucky Cat Yoga (Seminole Heights), Bella Prana (Hyde Park)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Crunch Fitness (Multiple locations - $15+/mo), Camp Tampa (Boutique fitness)
- Laundry Services
- Tampa Laundry Company (Wash & Fold from $1.75/lb)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- The Cuban Sandwich (Traditional at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Seasoned Greens, Farmacy Vegan Kitchen (Downtown)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bern’s Steak House Harry Waugh Dessert Room, Hampton Chocolate Factory
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Publix (Standard), Aldi (Budget), Sanwa Farmer's Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery available), Walmart.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Shipt (Headquartered in AL, very popular in FL)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Ybor City (7th Avenue), SoHo (South Howard Avenue)
- Local Brewery
- Cigar City Brewing (Jai Alai IPA), Coppertail Brewing Co.
- Wine Bars
- Cru Cellars (Palma Ceia), Cheese Please
- Street Food Stalls
- Armature Works (Heights Public Market), Sparkman Wharf (Shipping container food court)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ichicoro Ramen (Japanese), Edison: Food+Drink Lab (Modern American fusion)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Tampa Riverwalk, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, The Florida Aquarium
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tampa Museum of Art, Dali Museum (nearby St. Pete)
- Historical Sites
- Ybor City State Museum, Henry B. Plant Museum (University of Tampa)
- Religious Sites
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Historic 1905 architecture)
- Annual Events
- Gasparilla Pirate Festival (January), Florida State Fair
- Cultural Districts
- Latin Quarter (Ybor City), Westshore District
- Theater Venues
- Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Theatre (Historical)
- Local Markets
- Ybor City Saturday Market, Hyde Park Fresh Market (First Sunday)
- Music Scene
- The Ritz Ybor, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Street Art
- Tampa Heights Murals, Cass Street Viaduct art
- Cooking Classes
- Sur La Table (Hyde Park Village)
- Art Galleries
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA)
- Historic Buildings
- El Centro Español de Tampa, Tampa Union Station
- Local Heritage
- Spanish, Cuban, and Italian influences from the cigar industry era
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lettuce Lake Park, Hillsborough River State Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Everglades National Park (4 hours south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Bayshore Boulevard (Longest continuous sidewalk in the world - 4.5 miles)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Pier (St. Petersburg side) or Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Eureka Springs Park, Weedon Island Preserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Fort De Soto Park (Designated areas with permits)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office, UPS Store, USPS (Post Office)
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix (Multiple locations), Apple Store (International Plaza)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Tampa Bay Table Tennis (Seminole Recreation Division)
- Language Classes
- Tampa Language Center (Spanish, English, French)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- John F. Germany Public Library (Downtown)
- Community Centers
- Bryan Glazer Family JCC
- Gaming Lounges
- Lowry Parcade (Arcade bar), Waypoint 6-Tavern & Geekery
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,800 per m² ($250k+ for 40m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² ($168k+ for 40m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² ($390k+ for 60m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,800 per m² ($228k+ for 60m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² ($440k+ for 80m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,500 per m² ($280k+ for 80m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 5.5% (Florida State) + 21% (Federal)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for US tax residents; up to 30% for non-residents (subject to treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for US citizens/green card holders; Residents taxed on US source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal). Florida has 0% State Income Tax
- VAT
- 7.5% (Sales Tax in Hillsborough County)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes (GILTI and Subpart F rules apply)
- Property Tax
- Approx. 1.1% to 1.5% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 0.7% Documentary Stamp Tax on deeds
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Highly attractive due to 0% state income tax for US residents