Essentials

πŸ™οΈ City Tampa is a vibrant city located on the west coast of Florida, known for its warm climate, beautiful beaches, and rich cultural scene.
πŸ‘₯ Population Approx. 400,000
πŸ’» Internet Speed Average download speed of 150 Mbps
πŸ’Έ Currency & Banking 1 USD = 1 USD; major banks include Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo
🚰 Tap Water Drinkable and treated, though some prefer bottled water.
πŸ”Œ Power 120V, 60Hz, πŸ”Œ Type A/B sockets
πŸ“Ά SIM Card Providers include AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
πŸ’³ Banking for Expats Easily use international banks like HSBC and local services from Wells Fargo.
πŸ›Œ Accommodation Airbnb is popular in the area; monthly rents in South Tampa average around $2,000 for 1-bedroom apartments.
πŸ’³ Cashless Friendly Yes, cards accepted widely in most places.
🏠 Short Term Rentals Airbnb, Vrbo, and local rental agencies offer numerous short-term options.
πŸ›οΈ Budget Accommodation Hostel options like the HI Tampa Hostel for budget-friendly prices starting at $35 per night.

Working and Networking

🏒 Best Coworking Space Spaces Tampa is well-rated for its professional environment.
β˜• Best Cafe for Work Buddy Brew Coffee offers a great atmosphere for remote work.
πŸ’Ό Networking Events Meetups at Tampa Bay Startup Week (annually) and Tech meets on Eventbrite.
πŸ₯‚ Social Events for Expats Tampa Bay Expats offers a Facebook group for networking and events.

Transportation

πŸš• Best Taxi/Ride App Uber and Lyft are both widely used in Tampa.
🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental Tampa Bay bike share program and Lime scooters available for rental.
πŸ–οΈ Best Beach Nearby Clearwater Beach, about 30 minutes away.
✈️ Top Regional Airline Silver Airways operates flights within Florida.
✈️ Top International Airline American Airlines and Southwest Airlines offer international flights.
πŸ›£οΈ Highway Access Interstate 275 and Highway 60 provide easy access to major routes.
πŸš‰ Main Train/Transit Hub Tampa Bay Area Transit Authority (HART) bus terminal.
🚍 Public Transport Passes HART has day passes, weekly and monthly options available.
✈️ Regional Travel Bus services connect to nearby cities like St. Petersburg and Orlando.

Health and Wellness

πŸ₯ Best Hospital Tampa General Hospital is the top-rated hospital in the area.
🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers Dharma Yoga Tampa and Bones & Harmony are popular options.
πŸ‹οΈ Gyms & Fitness Centers LA Fitness and Planet Fitness have locations throughout Tampa.
🧺 Laundry Services Wash and Fold laundromat options are available throughout the city.

Food and Drink

πŸ“± Best Food Delivery App UberEats and DoorDash serve most areas.
🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try Cuban sandwich and Tampa-style bagels are must-try local specialties.
🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options Sprout is a popular vegan-friendly restaurant in the vicinity.
🍫 Best Dessert Spots The Cupcake Spot offers a variety of delicious treats.
πŸ›’ Affordable Shopping Spots Ybor City Marketplace holds various affordable dining options.
πŸ›’ E-commerce/Online Store Amazon, Walmart.com, and local stores like Sweetbay Supermarket.
πŸ›’ Grocery Delivery Instacart and Shipt offer grocery delivery services in the area.
🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area Ybor City is the hub for nightlife with numerous bars and clubs.
🍻 Local Brewery Cigar City Brewing offers popular local beers and tours.
🍷 Wine Bars The Wine Exchange offers a range of local and imported wines.
🍲 Street Food Stalls Food trucks are frequented at local events and Ybor City.
πŸ• Popular International Cuisine Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City for Spanish cuisine.

Culture and Attractions

🎟️ Must-See Landmarks Tampa Riverwalk and Busch Gardens are iconic.
πŸ›οΈ Museums & Art Venues The Tampa Museum of Art and the Florida Aquarium are must-visit spots.
🏰 Historical Sites Ybor City and the Henry B. Plant Museum showcase local history.
πŸ• Religious Sites The Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle is a prominent landmark.
πŸŽ‰ Annual Events Gasparilla Pirate Festival happens every January.
🎨 Cultural Districts Ybor City is known for its rich Hispanic heritage.
🎭 Theater Venues The Straz Center for the Performing Arts hosts major events.
πŸ›οΈ Local Markets Tampa Farmers Market is open every Saturday.
🎼 Music Scene Live music at The Orpheum and The Ritz Ybor.
🎨 Street Art Central Avenue has a vibrant street art scene.
πŸ§‘β€πŸ³ Cooking Classes The Getaway offers a range of culinary workshops.
πŸ‘©β€πŸŽ¨ Art Galleries The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts has engaging exhibitions.
πŸ•°οΈ Historic Buildings The Tampa Bay Hotel is an architectural marvel.
🏴 Local Heritage Cuban heritage is celebrated extensively in Ybor City.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

πŸŒ… Nearby Nature Escapes Hillsborough River State Park offers trails and kayaking.
🏞️ National Parks Nearby Everglades National Park is about a 3-hour drive away.
🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths The Tampa Riverwalk provides scenic walking paths along the waterfront.
πŸŒ„ Scenic Viewpoints Bayshore Boulevard offers breathtaking views of the bay.
πŸ¦‰ Birdwatching Locations Birdwatching is popular at Lettuce Lake Park.
πŸ”₯ Bonfire-Friendly Spots Some beaches such as Fort De Soto Park allow bonfires.

Other Services and Amenities

πŸ“¦ Parcel Delivery Service FedEx and UPS have numerous locations throughout the city.
πŸ› οΈ Tech Repair Services Best Buy and local shops offer reliable device repairs.
πŸ“ Table Tennis Spots Some community centers and gyms offer table tennis facilities.
πŸ§‘β€πŸ« Language Classes Educational centers like the Alliance FranΓ§aise offer classes.
πŸ“š Libraries & Study Spots The Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System is robust.
🏘️ Community Centers The West Tampa Community Center hosts various events.
πŸ•ΉοΈ Gaming Lounges Gaming lounges like The Nerdy are popular hangouts.
🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is a popular destination.

Business

🏒 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $128,000)
🏒 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. $2,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $100,000)
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. $3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $180,000)
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. $2,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $132,000)
🏑 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $224,000)
🏑 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. $2,100 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $168,000)
πŸ’Ό Corporate Tax 4.458% for corporations
πŸ’΅ Dividend Withholding Tax 0% on dividends
🏦 Tax System Florida has no state income tax.
πŸ“ˆ Highest Income Tax Bracket State tax is 0%, but federal tax applies.
🧾 VAT 6% sales tax applies to most goods.
🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules Yes, the U.S. has CFC regulations.
🏠 Property Tax Approx. 1.15% of property value annually.
🏠 Property Transaction Tax No transfer tax in Florida, but recording fees apply.