City comparison
Yes. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Honolulu and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where Honolulu and Orlando split most clearly. Honolulu scores 162 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,747 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. Honolulu wins on the job market and safety and Orlando wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Honolulu has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Honolulu and Orlando are 4,739 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $76 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $72,336 in Orlando, down $14,168 (16%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 242 in Orlando, up 162 points (203%).
The move
Orlando and Honolulu are 4,739 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $76 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $14,168 (20%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 80 in Honolulu, down 162 points (67%).
Honolulu, HI
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 Honolulu and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Orlando rent is 4% cheaper than Honolulu
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so Orlando is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $76, or $912 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Honolulu's median income is 20% higher than Orlando
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Honolulu (about $14,168 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, Honolulu 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
67% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 67% lower than Orlando
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Honolulu. 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, Honolulu 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
Honolulu and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Honolulu sits near 77°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Honolulu is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($86,504). Start with Honolulu if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Orlando (80 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Honolulu scores 67/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando. Rent is $1,823/month in Honolulu and $1,747/month in Orlando, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is still below Honolulu's $1,823, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $1,823 in Honolulu.
Between Honolulu and Orlando, Honolulu is ahead on safety — 67/100 safety versus 33/100. Lean Orlando instead when you already know the Orlando block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Honolulu and Orlando, plus other cities in HI and FL.
