Orlando has a reputation for being one of the best family vacation getaways in the United States. Located a bit north of the center of Florida, Orlando benefits from a warm climate, lush green foliage and lots of sunny days. To the west, you’ll find Tampa, and beyond that are beautiful white-sand beaches. Or, head in the other direction to enjoy the east coast of Florida.
The nickname for Orlando is “the City Beautiful,” and it’s one of the world’s best travel destinations due to its famous amusement parks and conventions. These top-notch attractions draw more than 75 million visitors annually! Of course, if you visit you’ll probably want to see Disney World, part of the Walt Disney World Resort. You can also visit the Universal Orlando Resort, which contains Universal Studios Florida, as well as Islands of Adventure where you can visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.
This city isn’t just about amusement parks, though. If golf is your thing, Orlando won’t disappoint. You’ll find many great golf courses in the area, from high-end private golf clubs to public golf courses.
Average rent
What about the average rent in Orlando? While rents are higher than average in Orlando at $2,086 for a two-bedroom apartment, the overall cost of living index is 4.6 percent less than the national average. If you’re looking for housing, there are many great neighborhoods with affordable rents. In addition to rent, there are four estimated monthly costs (utilities, food, goods and services and taxes), as well as some that happen on an irregular basis, like healthcare and transportation.
Read on to learn more about the cost of living in Orlando. In this apartment guide, we will cover:
- Housing costs
- Food costs
- Utility costs
- Transportation costs
- Healthcare costs
- Goods and services costs
- Taxes
- How much do you need to earn in Orlando?
Housing costs
The average rent in Orlando is $1,779 for a one-bedroom unit, although the overall cost of living for housing runs a bit lower than the national average. You can find many affordable neighborhoods in and near Orlando, with Lake Sunset offering the lowest average rent at $730 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
A few good neighborhoods for an apartment search
Other popular neighborhoods include Downtown Orlando ($1,829 for a one-bedroom), Baldwin Park ($2,078 for a one-bedroom) and College Park ($1,395 for a one-bedroom). Some people prefer Orlando’s business district for proximity to work, but that’s where some of the more expensive neighborhoods are.
Average rent prices in cities near Orlando
If you want to find good rates for apartments near the city, you have some options in areas like Celebration or Kissimmee. We’ll also share some of the average rents in specific markets in proximity to Orlando, including both coasts. Rent prices listed are for one-bedroom apartments, and the price fluctuates depending on individual unit type.
- Celebration: $1,594
- Kissimmee: $1,595
- Melbourne: $1,654
- Tampa: $1,489
- Saint Petersburg: $1,755
- Clearwater: $2,026
Clearly, there are many rent and location options for Florida residents in and around the city of Orlando.
Home prices
The housing market in Orlando is hot compared with the rest of the country, according to Redfin. Be prepared to make quick decisions if you want to purchase a home in the area because the data shows it only takes about 12 days for someone to snap up a home. Home sellers often get multiple offers, and many buyers are willing to waive contingencies in order to get their foot in the door. This means that houses often sell for 3 percent above the list price. Don’t be surprised if a house gets an offer in just 4 days!
The data says that overall, prices for homes went up in this city by 14.9 percent compared to last year (as of March 2022). The median sale price is $327,500. Last year, it took an average of 26 days for a house to sell, so you can see how much hotter the market has become. More houses are selling, as well — 1,008 homes sold in February of 2022, up from 1,006 the year before.
Food costs
The cost of living in Orlando for groceries is a little bit over the national average by 5.6 percent. This is due to the number of tourists coming to the city, although the good news in that regard is that you’ll also have a lot of places to choose from for a night out to eat.
For renters who are planning to eat at home, you should budget approximately $10.95 for a steak, $5.89 for a pound of ground beef or a price of $4.79 for sausage. For vegetarian options, the price of lettuce averages $1.69, sweet peas $1.41 and peaches $2.07.
Cost of utilities
Orlando’s climate is humid and subtropical, which means you’ll definitely need an air conditioner going continuously if you want to feel comfortable, especially in the summer.
The cost of living for utilities is below the national average by 5 percent. This means your estimated monthly costs for energy will be $151.74. This obviously varies widely by how big your unit is.
Transportation costs
With so many tourists driving the roads in Florida, you bet that the traffic is a bit frustrating for Orlando residents. Additionally, at any given time, Orlando may have construction along I-4 as it winds its way around town, turning the freeway into a bit of a slalom course.
Unfortunately, the data says that the city is not very walkable (the Walk Score is 35), so you’ll need a car to get around. Orlando’s Transit Score is even worse, near the bottom at 28. There are some bike routes available, giving it a better Bike Score of 51.
Orlando’s public transportation options
For public transit, Orlando offers LYNX Bus Service. A single-ride fare is $2 (or $1 for discount fare). Transfers are free and you can get a day pass for $4.50 ($2.25 for discount fare).
Connecting to other cities and international destinations is easy with the Orlando International Airport. The city is also located near the Sanford Auto Train station, where snowbirds are able to load up their cars, as well as themselves, onto an Amtrak train to seasonally transition between Florida and the northeast.
Residents can’t wait for the new high-speed train running 125 m.p.h. and connecting Miami and Orlando is coming in 2022! Additional stops on this carbon-neutral transportation option will include Boca Raton, PortMiami and Aventura.
Healthcare costs
Healthcare costs in Orlando are 3.4 percent less than the national average, perhaps surprising given Florida’s high number of retirees. While individual healthcare costs vary, a trip to the doctor will cost on average around $96 and the optometrist about $99. A supply of ibuprofen from the drugstore will cost $10 on average.
According to U.S. News & World Report, some of the top-ranked hospitals and medical centers in Orlando are AdventHealth Orlando, Orlando Regional Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Estimated monthly costs for goods and services
The cost of miscellaneous goods and services is on par with the rest of the country at just 1.1 percent above the national average, an 8.01 percent increase from the previous year. With the warm Florida weather, you won’t need to spend as much on winter clothes or tires. Do be prepared to get your best golf shoes and pickleball outfits ready for year-round use, though!
If you need clothes, you can expect to pay about $25 for women’s slacks, $23 for a men’s shirt and $24 for kids’ jeans.
Movie tickets average $12.55 and a yoga class costs approximately $16.50. Of course, you can always play the tourist in your hometown and visit one of the great amusement parks. Expect tickets to run for $100 or more for a day, though, unless you purchase a season pass for a better price.
Taxes
If you dislike income tax, you’re in luck. The state of Florida doesn’t have state income tax, just a sales tax rate of 6 percent. In Orlando, you’ll also pay an extra .5 percent sales tax to Orange County. This results in a combined sales tax rate of 6.5 percent in Orlando. Thus, for every $1,000 you spend, you’ll be taxed $65.
How much do you need to earn to live in Orlando?
To afford the average rent in Orlando, which is $1,779 for a one-bedroom apartment, you would need to earn a salary of $5,930 per month or a total of $71,160 each year. This is based on the conventional wisdom that you should only spend approximately 30 percent of your income on rent.
Fortunately, the city of Orlando has many great neighborhoods with cheaper rent than the average. You’ll also save on taxes due to the lack of income tax in Florida. So, you can find a great home in the area at differing levels of income. To help make your apartment search easy for you, we have a free online rent calculator in this apartment guide to help you figure out what you can afford.
Understanding the cost of living in Orlando
The cost of living in Orlando is generally affordable, although the average rent in Orlando is a bit higher due to the many apartments available in expensive neighborhoods. With a massive tourist industry, as well as sunshine galore, Orlando is a welcoming place to visit and live, either part-time or year-round. With a strong local economy and many job opportunities, Orlando is likely to have a robust housing market for years to come.
