City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Minneapolis and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Minneapolis and Orlando. Minneapolis averages 55°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 $1,371 versus $1,747.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Orlando can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Minneapolis at $1,371 average has pockets that run $1,171 and others at $1,771: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Minneapolis and Orlando are 1,309 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $376 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $72,336 in Orlando, down $8,510 (11%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 242 in Orlando, down 61 points (20%).
The move
Orlando and Minneapolis are 1,309 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $376 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $8,510 (12%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 303 in Minneapolis, up 61 points (25%).
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minneapolis and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 22% cheaper than Orlando
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Minneapolis is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $376/month back in your pocket ($4,512/year). Over five years that's $22,560 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, Minneapolis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 12% higher than Orlando
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Minneapolis (about $8,510 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, Minneapolis 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
20% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 20% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°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 39% 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 Minneapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Minneapolis (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,371/month in Minneapolis versus $1,747 in Orlando. Median income reads $80,846 in Minneapolis and $72,336 in Orlando, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety scores read 26/100 in Minneapolis and 33/100 in Orlando.
If housing cost drives your move, Minneapolis is the stronger match ($1,371/month rent against $1,747). If an employer or family tie already points to Orlando, treat $1,747/month rent and $72,336 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Minneapolis and 71°F in Orlando.
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