Moving from Nashville, TN, to Tampa, FL

Heading to Cigar City

Relocating from Nashville to Tampa takes you around 700 miles south, but the cities are worlds apart when it comes to lifestyle. If you’re hoping for a change of pace from hopping “Music City,” then life in the laid-back “Cigar City” of Tampa is a move in the right direction. 

Once a major cigar producer, the coastal town of Tampa is a vibrant mix of cultures ready to make your acquaintance. Keep reading to learn more about life in your new home city. 

Soak up the sun in Florida 

The change in geography from Tennessee to Florida affects the seasons, even though both cities have a humid subtropical climate. While there were four distinct seasons in Nashville, there are only two in Tampa — a hot, humid summer and a mild, dry winter. 

You can expect summer temperatures of around 90 and annual rainfall of around 50 inches in both cities, but you’ll notice a stark difference in the winter.  

Nashville winter lows typically drop below freezing, allowing for around 4 inches of snow annually. Tampa temperatures rarely drop below 52 degrees, and the last recorded snowfall, which is extremely rare, occurred in 1977 when the city reported 0.2 inches of snow. 

You don’t have to leave music behind

If you think moving out of Music City means leaving the music scene behind, think again. Though it’s not the country music haven you had in Nashville, Tampa has its own cultural scene and music. 

From blues and jazz to rock and reggae, you’ll likely find something to hum along to in one of Tampa’s multiple live music venues. If screaming along to death metal is more your style, Tampa is known as the unofficial capital of the genre by many metal fans.  

Finding work in a bigger metro area

Tampa’s city population of 385,000 is smaller than Nashville’s 700,000, but the Tampa metro area is larger, with 3.1 million compared to 2 million in Nashville.  

The cost of living is slightly lower in Tampa, and unemployment rates are below the national average. Due to its coastal location, hospitality and tourism are the top industries in Tampa.  

Many people also find work in education, government and health care.

Start your journey to Florida with U-Pack

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers and more than 25 years of experience. Through our locations near Nashville and Tampa, we have what it takes to help with your long-distance move. We’re a DIY moving service where you handle packing, loading and unloading, and then we drive your belongings. Get a free online quote today, or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.