B+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
42%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Orlando Florida National
Cost of living11099100
Goods & Services94100100
Groceries105105100
Health care8294100
Housing14297100
Transportation9699100
Utilities9698100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Orlando, FL

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Orlando? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Orlando stands at 110, making it 10% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Orlando are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Orlando can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Orlando cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 42% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Orlando Affordable?

Is Orlando affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Orlando, the median home price is 45.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 33% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Orlando boasting a median household income of $83,762, 3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Orlando?

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Orlando, the transportation index is 4.3% lower than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Orlando, is 42% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Orlando, the groceries index registers 4.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Orlando cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Orlando is 11% higher than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Orlando is 10% higher than the national average
  • Orlando housing is 42% higher than the national average
  • Florida general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Florida state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Orlando

See all the best places to live around Orlando

Compare Orlando, FL Cost of Living

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      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$130,185$10,849$3,037$3,906
      Renters$69,117$5,760$1,613$2,074
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Orlando, FL, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Orlando homeowners, is $130,185. This would allow for a maximum of $3,037 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $69,117 which would result in a maximum of $1,613 to be spent on rental costs.

      Florida Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Florida 6% 7.5%

      Florida Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Florida 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Orlando National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.72$27.6217.7%
      Beauty Salon $52.33$51.112.4%
      Toothpaste $4.02$4.091.8%
      Shampoo $1.70$1.5410.2%
      Movie $15.42$12.8819.7%
      Yoga $15.86$19.6619.3%

      Groceries

      Item Orlando National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.89$7.702.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.71$4.730.5%
      Potatoes $5.47$5.264.1%
      Pizza $11.76$12.767.9%
      Beer $11.44$10.558.4%

      Health Care

      Item Orlando National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.24$140.0631.3%
      Doctor $131.00$153.8214.8%
      Dentist $98.76$123.1519.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.86$11.731.1%
      Lipitor $18.05$23.6123.6%

      Housing

      Item Orlando National avg. Difference
      Home Price $476,124.00$326,622.0045.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,857.44$2,480.2525.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,921.00$1,444.0033.0%

      Transportation

      Item Orlando National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.05$3.060.3%
      Tire Balancing $56.22$65.2113.8%

      Utilities

      Item Orlando National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $204.75$220.127.0%
      Phone $198.55$195.711.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Buena Vista, FL4964.2%
      Tildenville, FL44964.2%
      Lake Butler city, FL2,2508019.8%
      Bay Lake, FL458316.9%
      Clarcona, FL4,8408812.3%
      Orlando, FL294,6791109.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lincoln, NE293,945990.7%
      Gatineau, QC293,695n/a 
      Plano, TX297,92912828.0%
      Newark, NJ290,76411413.7%
      Anchorage, AK302,69713434.4%
      Orlando, FL294,6791109.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.