Cost of Living in Orlando: Rent, Housing & Income
Cost of living vs. U.S. average (2024)
1.4% above
Cost of living in Orlando is 1.4% above the U.S. average, based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis 2024 Regional Price Parities for the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area (index 101.4; U.S. = 100). Median rent in Orlando is $1,841 a month.
Cost of living in Orlando by category
Overall prices
101.4U.S. = 100
Regional price parity, all items
+1.4% vs. U.S.
- Goods
- 96.2 −3.8%
- Housing (rents)
- 123.4 +23.4%
- Utilities
- 87.2 −12.8%
- Other services
- 98.9 −1.1%
BEA 2024 · Orlando metro area Details: Overall prices
Housing
$1,841/mo
Median gross rent
+24% vs. U.S.
- 1-bedroom rent
- $1,633 +26% vs. U.S.
- 2-bedroom rent
- $1,875 +26% vs. U.S.
- 3-bedroom rent
- $2,293 +37% vs. U.S.
- Median home value
- $430,200 +19% vs. U.S.
- Owner costs, mortgage
- $2,379 +17% vs. U.S.
Census ACS 2024 Details: Housing
Utilities
$169/mo
Average electric bill
+8% vs. U.S.
- Electricity price
- 15.0¢/kWh −18% vs. U.S.
- Utilities price index
- 87.2
EIA July 2026 · Florida statewide Details: Utilities
Transportation
26.1min
Mean travel time to work
−4% vs. U.S.
- Commute mode: drove alone
- 69.3%
- Work from home
- 13.2%
- Gasoline (Florida)
- $4.12/gal −6% vs. U.S.
Census ACS 2024 · EIA September 2026 Details: Transportation
Food at home
$1,388/mo
Moderate-cost plan, family of 4
- Thrifty plan, family of 4
- $1,024/mo
- Liberal plan, family of 4
- $1,679/mo
- Moderate plan, single woman
- $403/mo
- Moderate plan, single man
- $478/mo
USDA August 2026 · U.S. average Details: Food at home
Child care
$225/wk
Center care, infant
+30% vs. U.S.
- Center care, toddler
- $180/wk +17% vs. U.S.
- Center care, preschool
- $160/wk +11% vs. U.S.
- Home-based care, infant
- $185/wk +29% vs. U.S.
DOL NDCP 2022 prices · Orange County Details: Child care
Income
$77,597/yr
Median household income
−5% vs. U.S.
- Median rent as share of income
- 28%
- Home value to income
- 5.5×
Census ACS 2024 Details: Income
Housing costs in Orlando
Median gross rent in Orlando is $1,841 a month, 24% above the U.S. median of $1,487.
The median owner-occupied home is valued at $430,200, and 7.8% of homes are valued at $1,000,000 or more.
Housing costs: Orlando vs. Florida vs. U.S.
Median monthly rent
Monthly owner costs
Median home value
Show the data table
| Measure | Orlando | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median monthly rent | $1,841 | $1,812 | $1,487 |
| Monthly owner costs | $2,379 | $2,168 | $2,035 |
| Median home value | $430,200 | $396,900 | $360,600 |
Rent is median gross rent; owner costs are for homes with a mortgage. American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Home values in Orlando
Show the data table
| Range | Orlando | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $100,000 | 2% | 10.2% |
| $100,000–$149,999 | 2.3% | 5.7% |
| $150,000–$199,999 | 8% | 7.5% |
| $200,000–$249,999 | 6.1% | 8.4% |
| $250,000–$299,999 | 6.6% | 8.5% |
| $300,000–$399,999 | 18.8% | 15.9% |
| $400,000–$499,999 | 20.5% | 12% |
| $500,000–$749,999 | 19.4% | 16.3% |
| $750,000–$999,999 | 8.5% | 7.5% |
| $1,000,000–$1,499,999 | 5.9% | 4.3% |
| $1,500,000 or more | 1.9% | 3.7% |
Share of owner-occupied homes. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B25075. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Monthly housing costs in Orlando
| Measure | Orlando | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent (all units) | $1,841 | $1,812 | $1,487 |
| 1-bedroom rent | $1,633 | $1,589 | $1,301 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,875 | $1,812 | $1,490 |
| 3-bedroom rent | $2,293 | $2,076 | $1,677 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,379 | $2,168 | $2,035 |
Median gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Owner costs include the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities. American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
How affordable is Orlando?
At the median, rent takes about 28% of household income in Orlando. Housing experts treat 30% as the limit before a household is considered cost-burdened. To keep the median rent at 30% of income, a household would need to earn about $73,600 a year.
The median home is worth $430,200, or 5.5 times the median household income.
Household income in Orlando
The median household in Orlando earns $77,597 a year, 5% below the U.S. median of $81,604. About 11.7% of households earn $200,000 or more, while 14.9% earn less than $25,000.
Median household income: Orlando vs. Florida vs. U.S.
Median household income (yearly)
Show the data table
| Measure | Orlando | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (yearly) | $77,597 | $77,735 | $81,604 |
American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Household income distribution in Orlando
Show the data table
| Range | Orlando | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 4.7% | 5.1% |
| $10,000–$14,999 | 2.6% | 3.3% |
| $15,000–$19,999 | 4.6% | 2.8% |
| $20,000–$24,999 | 3% | 3.2% |
| $25,000–$29,999 | 1.9% | 3% |
| $30,000–$34,999 | 3.7% | 3.3% |
| $35,000–$39,999 | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| $40,000–$44,999 | 4.3% | 3.5% |
| $45,000–$49,999 | 4.3% | 3.2% |
| $50,000–$59,999 | 5.6% | 6.4% |
| $60,000–$74,999 | 10.4% | 9.2% |
| $75,000–$99,999 | 15.2% | 12.6% |
| $100,000–$124,999 | 9.7% | 10.4% |
| $125,000–$149,999 | 5.3% | 7.4% |
| $150,000–$199,999 | 9.4% | 9.7% |
| $200,000 or more | 11.7% | 13.7% |
Share of households. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B19001. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Income and home values
| Measure | Orlando | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (yearly) | $77,597 | $77,735 | $81,604 |
| Median home value | $430,200 | $396,900 | $360,600 |
American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Price levels compared with the U.S.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes Regional Price Parities: price levels for the same basket of goods and services, with the U.S. average set to 100. In 2024, the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area scored 101.4 for all items. The highest category is housing rents at 123.4; the lowest is utilities at 87.2.
Regional price parities by category (U.S. = 100)
All items
Goods
Housing (rents)
Utilities
Other services
Show the data table
| Measure | Orlando metro area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.4 | 103.4 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 98.1 | 99.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 123.4 | 122.1 | 100.6 |
| Utilities | 87.2 | 90.1 | 98.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 101.3 | 100.1 |
Index, U.S. = 100. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, 2024. Metro area: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities
Utilities and energy costs
Households in Florida paid an average of 15.0¢ per kWh for electricity in July 2026, compared with 18.3¢ nationally. Over the past 12 months the average residential bill was $169 a month (U.S.: $157).
Energy prices are reported statewide, so these are Florida averages rather than figures for Orlando alone.
Energy prices: Florida vs. U.S.
Electricity price (¢/kWh)
Average electric bill (monthly)
Show the data table
| Measure | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity price (¢/kWh) | 15.0¢ | 18.3¢ |
| Average electric bill (monthly) | $169 | $157 |
Residential customers. Electricity price for July 2026; electric bill is a 12-month average. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly: residential retail sales
Transportation and commuting
Workers in Orlando who commute spend an average of 26.1 minutes getting to work (U.S.: 27.2 minutes). The most common way to get to work is to drive alone (69.3% of workers); 13.2% work from home. Regular gasoline averaged $4.12 a gallon in Florida in September 2026, compared with $4.36 nationally.
How workers get to work
Show the data table
| Means of transportation | Orlando | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 69.3% | 69% | 69.2% |
| Carpooled | 11.7% | 10% | 9.2% |
| Public transit | 1.5% | 1.3% | 3.7% |
| Walked | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Worked from home | 13.2% | 15.5% | 13.3% |
| Other (taxi, motorcycle, etc.) | 2.6% | 2.2% | 1.7% |
Share of workers 16 and over. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B08301. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Travel time to work in Orlando
Show the data table
| Range | Orlando | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 min | 1.7% | 2.8% |
| 5–9 min | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 10–14 min | 13.3% | 13.1% |
| 15–19 min | 18% | 15% |
| 20–24 min | 14.2% | 14.1% |
| 25–29 min | 9.5% | 7% |
| 30–34 min | 18.1% | 13.7% |
| 35–39 min | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| 40–44 min | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| 45–59 min | 5.3% | 8.3% |
| 60–89 min | 3.6% | 6.3% |
| 90 min or more | 2.7% | 3% |
Share of workers who do not work from home. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B08303. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Child care costs in Orlando
In 2022, full-time center-based care for an infant had a median price of $225 a week in Orange County, or $11,700 over 52 weeks. That is 30% above the U.S. county median of $174. Prices are for 2022 and are not adjusted for inflation.
Weekly child care prices (2022)
| Type of care | Orange County | Florida (county median) | U.S. (county median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center-based care, infant | $225 | $200 | $174 |
| Center-based care, toddler | $180 | $167 | $153 |
| Center-based care, preschool | $160 | $155 | $144 |
| Center-based care, school-age | $125 | $115 | $120 |
| Home-based family care, infant | $185 | $166 | $143 |
| Home-based family care, toddler | $160 | $150 | $132 |
| Home-based family care, preschool | $150 | $145 | $131 |
| Home-based family care, school-age | $125 | $119 | $118 |
Median weekly price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures are medians of county medians. Prices are for 2022 and are not adjusted for inflation. U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices. Source: National Database of Childcare Prices (U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau)
Food costs
USDA's moderate-cost food plan puts groceries for a family of four at $1,388 a month in August 2026; the thrifty plan comes to $1,024. USDA publishes these as national averages, not city figures, so they show a typical grocery budget rather than Orlando prices.
Monthly cost of food at home (August 2026)
| USDA food plan | U.S. family of 4 | U.S. couple | U.S. single man | U.S. single woman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty | $1,024 | $630 | $383 | $304 |
| Low-cost | $1,126 | $652 | $381 | $331 |
| Moderate-cost | $1,388 | $808 | $478 | $403 |
| Liberal | $1,679 | $1,007 | $583 | $515 |
Family of 4: two adults and two children aged 6–8 and 9–11. For a single man, the Thrifty plan costs more than the Low-cost plan: USDA re-evaluated the Thrifty plan in 2021, while the other plans still use older market baskets. USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Official Food Plans, August 2026. Source: USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (monthly reports)
What these figures cover
This page uses only federal statistics: the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Energy Information Administration, the Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture. It does not include health care figures for Orlando; we only publish numbers we can source.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Orlando?
Median rent is $1,633 for a one-bedroom and $1,875 for a two-bedroom unit, including utilities the renter pays.
How much do you need to make to live in Orlando?
To keep the median rent of $1,841 at no more than 30% of income, a household needs about $73,600 a year before taxes. This covers housing only.
Is Orlando more expensive than the U.S. average?
Yes. The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts overall prices in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area at 101.4 for 2024 (U.S. = 100), 1.4% above average. Housing rents score 123.4.
How long is the average commute in Orlando?
26.1 minutes one way for workers who commute, compared with 27.2 minutes nationally (Census ACS 2024).
How much does infant day care cost in Orlando?
The median price for full-time center-based infant care was $225 a week in Orange County in 2022, according to the Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices.