City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 252 in Seattle, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Seattle and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Orlando is significant: $123,860 median household versus $72,336. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $1,747 in Orlando.
Orlando is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Seattle 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Seattle in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Seattle and Orlando are 2,546 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $283 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $72,336 in Orlando, down $51,524 (42%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 242 in Orlando, down 10 points (4%).
The move
Orlando and Seattle are 2,546 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $283 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $123,860 in Seattle, up $51,524 (71%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 252 in Seattle, up 10 points (4%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Orlando rent is 14% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Orlando is 14% 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 $3,396, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Orlando still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Seattle.
Planning to buy in Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
71% higher
Seattle's median income is 71% higher than Orlando
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 71% higher in Seattle (about $51,524 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, Seattle 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
4% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 4% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% 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 Seattle. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 39% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Seattle 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 71% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle 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 4% lower than Seattle (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
Pay is the headline: Seattle median income is $123,860 versus $72,336 in Orlando (42% higher). Rent still runs $2,030/month in Seattle and $1,747/month in Orlando, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Seattle rates.
Seattle still pays more locally ($123,860 median income vs $72,336), which can offset the lease if your field pays Seattle rates.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $2,030 in Seattle.
If local pay drives your move, Seattle is the stronger match ($123,860 median income against $72,336). 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.
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 Seattle and Orlando, plus other cities in WA and FL.
