City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for St Paul.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Orlando and St Paul. Orlando averages 71°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,747 versus $1,281.
St Paul is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone St Paul is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Orlando and St Paul are 1,303 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $466 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $73,394 in St Paul, up $1,058 (1%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 166 in St Paul, down 76 points (31%).
The move
St Paul and Orlando are 1,303 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $466 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $72,336 in Orlando, down $1,058 (1%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 242 in Orlando, up 76 points (46%).
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Orlando and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
St Paul rent is 27% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,747 in Orlando, so St Paul is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $466/month back in your pocket ($5,592/year). Over five years that's $27,960 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, St Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
St Paul's median income is 1% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 1% higher in St Paul (about $1,058 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
31% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 31% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in St Paul. 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, St Paul 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
72% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Orlando scores 72% 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 St Paul if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 St Paul on this page's weather index by 72%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Paul 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 Orlando (166 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,747/month rent in Orlando at 71°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $72,336 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Safety scores read 33/100 in Orlando and 45/100 in St Paul.
Orlando wins on climate (71°F vs 50°F); St Paul is the better fit if $1,281 rent and $73,394 pay matter more than daily weather.
Typical rent stays $1,281 in St Paul and $1,747 in Orlando.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and St Paul, plus other cities in FL and MN.
