City comparison
Yes. New York's crime index is 169 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for New York and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
Climate is the sharpest divide between New York and Orlando. New York averages 52°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 $1,821 versus $1,747.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Orlando costs less and New York pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. New York has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New York and Orlando are 939 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $74 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $72,336 in Orlando, down $8,147 (10%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 242 in Orlando, up 73 points (43%).
The move
Orlando and New York are 939 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,821 a month in New York, up $74 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $80,483 in New York, up $8,147 (11%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 169 in New York, down 73 points (30%).
New York, NY
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 York and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Orlando rent is 4% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,821 in New York, so Orlando is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $74, or $888 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
11% higher
New York's median income is 11% higher than Orlando
New York
Winner$80,483
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 11% higher in New York (about $8,147 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, New York 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
30% lower crime
New York's crime index is 30% lower than Orlando
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
56% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 56% more comfortable than New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). New York averages around 52°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 56% 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 New York 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
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Orlando (169 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
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.
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat New York on this page's weather index by 56%. New York may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Orlando is the warmer market (71°F) and New York the cooler (52°F). Typical leases run $1,747 and $1,821; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is still below New York's $1,821, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $80,483 in New York versus $72,336 in Orlando.
Between New York and Orlando, Orlando is ahead on climate — 71°F typical weather versus 52°F. Lean New York instead when you would rather tolerate 52°F than optimize for Orlando's comfort score.
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 New York and Orlando, plus other cities in NY and FL.
