City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where New Orleans and Orlando split most clearly. Orlando scores 108 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,747 in Orlando.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Orlando wins on the job market and safety. 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. New Orleans at $1,251 average has pockets that run $1,051 and others at $1,651: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
New Orleans and Orlando are 533 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $496 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $72,336 in Orlando, up $15,705 (28%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 242 in Orlando, down 108 points (31%).
The move
Orlando and New Orleans are 533 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $496 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $15,705 (22%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 350 in New Orleans, up 108 points (45%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 28% cheaper than Orlando
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,747 in Orlando, so New Orleans is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $496/month back in your pocket ($5,952/year). Over five years that's $29,760 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, New Orleans is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Orlando's median income is 28% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Orlando (about $15,705 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 31% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
New Orleans and Orlando are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 28% higher here ($72,336). Start with Orlando if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than New Orleans (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
Rent is the clearest fork: New Orleans at $1,251/month versus $1,747 in Orlando ($496 apart). Orlando median income is $72,336 against $56,631 in New Orleans, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/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 $56,631 in New Orleans.
New Orleans clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Orlando deserves a serious look only when your $72,336 income offer in Orlando outweighs saving $496/month in New Orleans.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Orlando, plus other cities in LA and FL.
