Rentals in the Tampa area are a bit more expensive than Orlando, but we're right on the water. There is a nice Air Force Base (MacDill) in South Tampa with several rental options in that immediate area. Almost everything in Hillsborough County is hit or miss, so if you need help specifically, Juli or I should be able to tell you if it's a safe area or not.
I live in Pinellas County which is on the Gulf-side of Tampa Bay. Rentals here are plentiful and will cost you a little bit more than Hillsborough since we're closer to the beaches and it's not as urban (but it's still very populated).
Both counties will run you at least $1100+ for a 2-bedroom in a decent area. That doesn't include much besides rent. Utilities including electric, water, trash, pest control, etc. will likely run you at least $300 during the summer and about $200 during the cooler months.
As far as job market, Tampa isn't as robust as most urban cities, but there are jobs depending on your occupation. Tampa, as a whole, also doesn't pay as much as they should given the cost of living down here.
If you choose to live in the Tampa area, I highly advise some research on where jobs in your occupation exist. This is a large metro area in both population and surface area and traffic is a major factor. Do not rely on Google maps or anything like that for drive times. Add at least 20-30 mins to almost any estimate.
If you choose to live in Pinellas, you will have to cross one of three bridges to get around outside of the county. These bridges offer numerous accidents and many lovely delays to any commute outside of Pinellas, any time of day.
Regardless of where you may move, I hope it's a positive step for you! If there is anything you need, don't hesitate to PM me here or on FB.
xoxo
