States › Florida › Orlando

Is Orlando, FL expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 30 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,95511% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$78,014about $6,501/month · 10% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$394,10018% higher than U.S. average

Orlando is the 4th-largest city in Florida that we track, with 319,758 residents. Rent is higher than in 67% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.1 years of household income. Most households rent (61%), so there are plenty of rental options.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $78,200 a year. That is $38 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Florida cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Florida. It is number 235 of 479 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Orlando
$1,955
$2,216
$2,297
$2,538

Compare Orlando with other big cities

vs New Yorkvs Los Angelesvs Chicagovs Houstonvs Jacksonvillevs Miamivs Tampavs St. Petersburgvs Tempevs Worcestervs Providencevs Tacoma

Compare Orlando to 149 other cities →

How much do households earn in Orlando?

Under $25k
14.0%
$25k–50k
22.7%
$50k–100k
32.9%
$100k–150k
14.2%
$150k+
10.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 24.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Orlando

SizeOrlandoU.S. average
Studio$1,607$1,338
1 bedroom$1,574$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,897$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,196$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,305$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Orlando overall?

Everyday prices in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.4, U.S. = 100).

Housing
123
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
87
Other services
99
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.

Taxes and bills in Orlando

🏛️ Property tax$3,213a year · 0.82% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$164a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Orlando

Commute to work26.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree42.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home39.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line14.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.2%U.S.: 5.2%

What jobs pay in Orlando

JobMedian payRent / pay
Lawyer$136,97017.1%
Pharmacist$135,01017.4%
Nurse Practitioner$130,64018.0%
Software Developer$129,62018.1%
Physician Assistant$127,20018.4%
Computer Systems Analyst$100,78023.3%
Civil Engineer$100,74023.3%
Operations Manager$100,44023.4%
Dental Hygienist$92,56025.3%
Registered Nurse$83,55028.1%
Accountant$78,63029.8%
Market Research Analyst$72,86032.2%
Police Officer$63,01037.2%
Licensed Practical Nurse$61,03038.4%
Elementary School Teacher$60,19039.0%
Plumber$55,38042.4%
HVAC Technician$51,46045.6%
Electrician$50,82046.2%
Truck Driver$50,25046.7%
Carpenter$49,75047.2%
Firefighter$45,52051.5%
Medical Assistant$43,80053.6%
Customer Service Representative$40,53057.9%
Warehouse Worker$38,63060.7%
Restaurant Cook$37,97061.8%
Nursing Assistant$37,69062.2%
Server (Waiter/Waitress)$35,41066.3%
Retail Salesperson$32,29072.7%
Cashier$31,33074.9%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Orlando?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $780 a month less.

Renting
$1,955
Owning
$2,735

Owning assumes a typical $394,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $39,410 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Orlando, FL?

Renting in Orlando costs a median of about $1,955 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Florida median is $1,963.

How much do I need to make to live in Orlando?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $78,200 a year, or $38 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Orlando cheap or expensive?

Orlando is rated Expensive: rent takes 30.1% of the typical household income of $78,014. It ranks 235th cheapest of 479 Florida cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Orlando?

The median homeowner in Orlando pays $3,213 a year in property taxes, about 0.82% of the median home value.

Is Orlando more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in the metro area are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Orlando?

The median home value in Orlando is $394,100, about 5.1 times the typical yearly household income.

319,758 people live in Orlando. Numbers are typical (middle) values.