Orlando, FL Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Orlando, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Orlando →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Orlando's population is about 307,738. On income, the typical household clears $66,292 a year, running roughly in line with the median household income across the cities we cover (-8%).
Expect a median home value of $332,700 in Orlando, which runs roughly in line with what we see across other cities (+2%). Median rent lands at $1,509/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
At roughly 5.0 times median income, Orlando's home values sit in a balanced range compared to the cities we track. Home prices around Orlando have been essentially flat over the past year, up just 0.81%. FEMA rates Orlando's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,509/mo in Orlando would take 27.3% of your income.
$148/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($332,700) would take 32.2% of your income toward principal & interest.
$229/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Orlando
Median home value is $332,700 and median gross rent is $1,509/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Orange rose 0.81% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,972/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Orlando's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Orlando reported a violent crime rate of 0 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Orlando
Planning a move to Orlando? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Cost estimates for moving between Orlando and nearby popular destinations:
- Moving from Orlando to Miami
- Moving from Orlando to Tampa
- Moving from Orlando to Atlanta
- Moving from Orlando to New York
- Moving from Orlando to Boston
- Moving from Orlando to Philadelphia
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Orlando, FL?
- Housing drives most of the cost-of-living picture in Orlando — median home value of $332,700, median rent of $1,509/month — set against a median household income of $66,292 (US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Orlando?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,509/month in Orlando, that implies an income of about $60,360 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Orlando.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Orlando?
- Buying at Orlando's median home value of $332,700 takes about $76,120 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $60,360 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,509/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Orlando safe?
- Orlando reported a violent crime rate of 0 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data. Compare that figure against other cities you're considering for context.
See the full salary breakdown for Orlando →
Compare Orlando to similar cities
- Miami vs Orlando: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Orlando vs Tampa: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Orlando vs Atlanta: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Orlando vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Orlando vs Boston: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Orlando vs Philadelphia: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Orlando's.