City comparison
Yes. Miami's crime index is 140 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Miami and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,758 in Miami.
Safety is where Miami and Orlando split most clearly. Miami scores 102 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,758 in Miami and $1,747 in Orlando.
Orlando is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Miami 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 crime gap is citywide. Miami has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Miami and Orlando are 204 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,758 a month in Miami to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $11 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $62,462 in Miami to $72,336 in Orlando, up $9,874 (16%).
The crime index goes from 140 in Miami to 242 in Orlando, up 102 points (73%).
The move
Orlando and Miami are 204 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,758 a month in Miami, up $11 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $62,462 in Miami, down $9,874 (14%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 140 in Miami, down 102 points (42%).
Miami, FL
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 Miami and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Orlando rent is 1% cheaper than Miami
Miami
$1,758/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,758 in Miami, so Orlando is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $11, or $132 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 Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Orlando's median income is 16% higher than Miami
Miami
$62,462
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $62,462 in Miami, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Orlando (about $9,874 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. Miami can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Miami's crime index is 42% lower than Orlando
Miami
Winner140 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Miami's crime index is 140 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Miami. 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, Miami 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
6% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 6% more comfortable than Miami
Miami
81°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 94/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Miami averages about 81°F (83°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Miami averages around 81°F. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando scores 6% 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 Miami if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Miami is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Orlando (140 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 16% 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Miami scores 50/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando. Typical rent is the same $1,758/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $62,462 in Miami — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 81°F in Miami and 71°F in Orlando.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Miami; Orlando only makes sense when you have walked the Orlando ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,747 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Orlando when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Miami and Orlando, plus other cities in FL.
