City comparison
Yes. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Atlanta and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Atlanta is cheaper. Median rent is $1,711 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
The income gap between Atlanta and Orlando is significant: $85,652 median household versus $72,336. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,747 in Orlando.
Atlanta is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Atlanta is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Atlanta and Orlando are 402 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $36 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $72,336 in Orlando, down $13,316 (16%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 242 in Orlando, up 45 points (23%).
The move
Orlando and Atlanta are 402 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, down $36 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $13,316 (18%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 197 in Atlanta, down 45 points (19%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Atlanta rent is 2% cheaper than Orlando
Atlanta
Winner$1,711/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,711 a month in Atlanta versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Atlanta is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $36, or $432 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Atlanta's median income is 18% higher than Orlando
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Atlanta (about $13,316 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 19% lower than Orlando
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Atlanta. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Atlanta is the easier city. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,711 a month. Choose Atlanta if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Orlando (197 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Orlando is cheaper on rent ($1,747/month vs $1,711), but Atlanta's $85,652 median income beats Orlando's $72,336 by 16%. Remote workers paid on Atlanta scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
With only $36 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Atlanta and 71°F in Orlando.
Atlanta leads on local pay ($85,652 median income vs $72,336), even though rent runs $1,711 versus $1,747 — skip Atlanta only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Orlando, plus other cities in GA and FL.
