City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Dallas and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Dallas and Orlando split most clearly. Dallas scores 54 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,747 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and safety and Orlando wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Dallas at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Orlando are 962 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $275 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $72,336 in Orlando, up $1,818 (3%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 242 in Orlando, up 54 points (29%).
The move
Orlando and Dallas are 962 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $275 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $70,518 in Dallas, down $1,818 (3%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 188 in Dallas, down 54 points (22%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Dallas rent is 16% cheaper than Orlando
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Dallas is 16% 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 $3,300, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas 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 Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Orlando's median income is 3% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Orlando (about $1,818 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
22% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 22% lower than Orlando
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Dallas. 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, Dallas 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
Neck and neck
Dallas and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Orlando (188 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Orlando is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($72,336). Start with Orlando if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Orlando runs $1,747/month while Dallas sits at $1,472 — roughly 16% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Orlando-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Orlando's $1,747, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Dallas is the default on housing cost at $1,472/month versus $1,747 in Orlando; Orlando stays in play when $72,336 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $275 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Dallas when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Orlando, plus other cities in TX and FL.
