City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Philadelphia and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Philadelphia and Orlando. Philadelphia averages 54°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 $1,397 versus $1,747.
Orlando is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Philadelphia at $1,397 average has pockets that run $1,197 and others at $1,797: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Orlando are 864 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $350 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $72,336 in Orlando, up $10,383 (17%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 242 in Orlando, down 19 points (7%).
The move
Orlando and Philadelphia are 864 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $350 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $10,383 (14%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 261 in Philadelphia, up 19 points (8%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 20% cheaper than Orlando
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Philadelphia is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,200, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Orlando's median income is 17% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Orlando (about $10,383 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
7% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 7% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Orlando. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Orlando, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Philadelphia. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 45% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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 45% 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 17% 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.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Philadelphia (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: Philadelphia at $1,397/month versus $1,747 in Orlando ($350 apart). Orlando median income is $72,336 against $61,953 in Philadelphia, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/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 $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Pick Philadelphia when shaving $350 off rent at $1,397/month is the priority. Otherwise, Orlando's case rests on $1,747/month rent with $72,336 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Orlando, plus other cities in PA and FL.
