City comparison
Yes. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Chicago and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Orlando. Chicago averages 53°F while Orlando averages 71°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,747.
Chicago 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 Chicago is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Chicago at $1,440 average has pockets that run $1,240 and others at $1,840: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Orlando are 985 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $307 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $72,336 in Orlando, down $5,566 (7%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 242 in Orlando, up 75 points (45%).
The move
Orlando and Chicago are 985 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $307 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $77,902 in Chicago, up $5,566 (8%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 167 in Chicago, down 75 points (31%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Chicago rent is 18% cheaper than Orlando
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Chicago is 18% 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 $3,684, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Chicago's median income is 8% higher than Orlando
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Chicago (about $5,566 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 31% lower than Orlando
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Chicago. 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, Chicago 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
52% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando scores 52% 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 Chicago 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
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Orlando (167 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 Chicago on this page's weather index by 52%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Orlando is the warmer market (71°F) and Chicago the cooler (53°F). Typical leases run $1,747 and $1,440; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Typical rent stays $1,440 in Chicago and $1,747 in Orlando.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Orlando; Chicago only makes sense when 53°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Safety scores read 44/100 in Chicago and 33/100 in Orlando.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Chicago when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Orlando, plus other cities in IL and FL.
