City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Boston and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Safety is where Boston and Orlando split most clearly. Boston scores 95 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,147 in Boston and $1,747 in Orlando.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Orlando costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Orlando at $1,747 average has pockets that run $1,547 and others at $2,147: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Boston and Orlando are 1,116 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $400 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $72,336 in Orlando, down $25,008 (26%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 242 in Orlando, up 95 points (65%).
The move
Orlando and Boston are 1,116 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $400 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $97,344 in Boston, up $25,008 (35%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 147 in Boston, down 95 points (39%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Orlando rent is 19% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $2,147 in Boston, so Orlando is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,800, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Orlando still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Boston.
Planning to buy in Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Boston's median income is 35% higher than Orlando
Boston
Winner$97,344
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Boston (about $25,008 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, Boston 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
39% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 39% lower than Orlando
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
39% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 39% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Orlando
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Orlando averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Orlando sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando scores 39% 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 Boston 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
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Orlando (147 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
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (80°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 39%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is the headline: Boston runs $2,147/month, a $400 monthly gap. Boston median income is $97,344 versus $72,336 in Orlando, which rarely closes that housing spread for renters.
Orlando posts a 33/100 safety score against Boston's 48/100. Boston is for people locked into finance, biotech, or academia who already have the offer and will tolerate Northeast winters.
Orlando is for remote workers, hospitality careers, or retirees who want heat (80°F averages) and materially lower rent. Do not move to Boston expecting the salary alone to normalize the lease.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Orlando when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and Orlando, plus other cities in MA and FL.
