City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Cleveland and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Cleveland and Orlando. Cleveland 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 $1,060 versus $1,747.
Orlando is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Orlando is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and Orlando are 896 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $687 a month (65%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $72,336 in Orlando, up $7,868 (12%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 242 in Orlando, down 99 points (29%).
The move
Orlando and Cleveland are 896 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $687 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $7,868 (11%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 341 in Cleveland, up 99 points (41%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 39% cheaper than Orlando
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Cleveland is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $687/month back in your pocket ($8,244/year). Over five years that's $41,220 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Orlando, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Orlando's median income is 12% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Orlando (about $7,868 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, Orlando is the stronger labor market on paper. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 29% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Orlando. 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, Orlando is the easier city. Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Cleveland 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 Cleveland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($72,336), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Cleveland (242 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.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Cleveland undercuts Orlando by $687/month ($1,060 vs $1,747). I would not pick Orlando on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (33/100 in Orlando vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 23/100 in Cleveland and 33/100 in Orlando.
Between Cleveland and Orlando, Cleveland is ahead on housing cost — $1,060/month rent against $1,747. Lean Orlando instead when your $72,336 income offer in Orlando outweighs saving $687/month in Cleveland.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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