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City comparison

El Paso, TX vs Orlando, FL

Is El Paso safer than Orlando?

Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for El Paso and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.

El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.

Safety is where El Paso and Orlando split most clearly. El Paso scores 155 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,747 in Orlando.

This is a genuine split. El Paso 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. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.

The move

Moving from El Paso to Orlando

El Paso and Orlando are 1,513 miles apart in a straight line.

Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $674 a month (63%).

Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $72,336 in Orlando, up $12,591 (21%).

The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 242 in Orlando, up 155 points (178%).

The move

Moving from Orlando to El Paso

Orlando and El Paso are 1,513 miles apart in a straight line.

Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $674 a month (39%).

Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $59,745 in El Paso, down $12,591 (17%).

The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 87 in El Paso, down 155 points (64%).

El Paso, TX

Rent
$1,073/mo
HUD 2-bedroom FMR
$1,146/mo
Median income
59,745
Crime index
87
Weather
66°F

School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.

Orlando, FL

Rent
$1,747/mo
HUD 2-bedroom FMR
$1,959/mo
Median income
72,336
Crime index
242
Weather
71°F

School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.

Comparing El Paso and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.

Rent

39% cheaper

El Paso rent is 39% cheaper than Orlando

El Paso

Winner

$1,073/mo

Orlando

$1,747/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,747 in Orlando, so El Paso is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $674/month back in your pocket ($8,088/year). Over five years that's $40,440 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

Median income

21% higher

Orlando's median income is 21% higher than El Paso

El Paso

$59,745

Orlando

Winner

$72,336

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Orlando (about $12,591 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

64% lower crime

El Paso's crime index is 64% lower than Orlando

El Paso

Winner

87 (100 = avg)

Orlando

242 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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

El Paso and Orlando are about even on typical weather.

El Paso

66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100

Orlando

71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100

What this means for your life

El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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

Who should choose El Paso

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 64% lower than Orlando (87 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.

Open the El Paso report →

Fit check

Who should choose Orlando

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 21% higher here ($72,336). Start with Orlando if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Orlando report →

Bottom line

El Paso vs Orlando: Our Take

Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,747/month in Orlando, so you are not buying calm streets for free.

Orlando still pays more locally ($72,336 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Orlando rates.

Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $59,745 in El Paso.

Most movers who prioritize safety land in El Paso; Orlando only makes sense when you have walked the Orlando ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,747 rent.

Common questions

El Paso vs Orlando FAQ

Is El Paso cheaper than Orlando?
Yes. Typical rent in El Paso is $1,073 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando (39% cheaper). Median household income is $59,745 in El Paso compared with $72,336 in Orlando, so Orlando has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, El Paso or Orlando?
El Paso is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 87 versus 242 in Orlando (64% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, El Paso or Orlando?
School quality varies by neighborhood in El Paso. Check GreatSchools.org or your local district for current ratings before you choose a ZIP. The same applies in Orlando. We do not publish a citywide school grade comparison because we do not yet have a verified public school-quality feed.

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