Moving here
Cost of Living in Orlando, Florida
Orlando's median home sale price was $414,726 in August 2026 (Redfin), and the average rent was $1,895 in October 2026 (Zillow). Florida has no state personal income tax, but homeowners insurance runs high: Florida averaged $2,677 a year in 2022, the most of any state (NAIC data via the Insurance Information Institute).
Kris Persaud · Watson Realty Corp. · 1390 N Hancock Rd, Clermont, FL 34711
The table
Orlando Costs at a Glance
Every figure below names its source and the period it covers. Figures change, so check the source before you budget.
| Cost | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Median home sale price, Orlando | $414,726 (down 1.2% year over year) | Redfin, August 2026 |
| Average rent, Orlando | $1,895 a month (all sizes and types) | Zillow Rental Manager, updated October 7, 2026 |
| Median rent, Orlando | $1,522 a month (down 1.5% year over year) | Apartment List rent report, October 2026 |
| 30-year fixed mortgage rate | 7.40% national average | Freddie Mac, October 8, 2026 |
| State personal income tax | None | Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5 |
| Sales tax, Orange County (Orlando, Winter Garden, Apopka) | 6.5% (6% state + 0.5% county) | Florida Department of Revenue, DR-15DSS |
| Sales tax, Lake County (Clermont, Groveland) | 7% (6% state + 1% county) | Florida Department of Revenue, DR-15DSS |
| Sales tax, Osceola County (Kissimmee) | 7.5% (6% state + 1.5% county) | Florida Department of Revenue, DR-15DSS |
| Average homeowners premium, Florida | $2,677 a year (U.S. $1,569) | NAIC data for 2022, via Insurance Information Institute |
| Average residential electricity, Florida | 15.03 cents per kWh (U.S. 18.31) | U.S. Energy Information Administration, July 2026 |
| Average hourly wage, Orlando metro | $29.76 (U.S. $33.54) | Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 |
County sales tax rates are from the Department of Revenue's DR-15DSS form for calendar year 2025, the current form posted when checked in October 2026. Use the Department's address lookup for the exact rate at an address.
The biggest cost
Housing: Buying and Renting
Redfin put Orlando's median sale price at $414,726 in August 2026, down 1.2% from a year earlier, with homes taking a median 52 days to sell compared with 48 days the year before. Prices in Clermont, Winter Garden and Kissimmee differ from the city figure, so ask for numbers on the town you are considering.
Rent figures depend on who is counting. Zillow's rental tool showed an average of $1,895 a month for all sizes and home types in Orlando (updated October 7, 2026), about $66 less than a year earlier. Apartment List's October 2026 report put the median at $1,522, down 1.5% year over year. The two use different listings and methods, so treat them as a range.
If you buy with a loan, the rate matters as much as the price. The national 30-year fixed average was 7.40% on October 8, 2026 (Freddie Mac). A lender can tell you what your payment would be.
What Florida charges
Taxes: Income, Sales and Property
Florida does not tax the personal income of its residents. The Florida Constitution (Article VII, Section 5) limits any state tax on residents' income, and the Department of Revenue's list of taxes has a corporate income tax but no personal one.
The state sales tax is 6% (Florida Department of Revenue). Counties can add a surtax. Orange County adds 0.5%, Lake County 1% and Osceola County 1.5%, according to the Department's DR-15DSS form.
Property tax is where Florida costs show up. Each county, city, school district and special district sets its own millage rate, so two homes at the same price can have different tax bills. Your county property appraiser's website shows the rates and past bills for a home.
- Homestead exemption: up to $51,411 off the assessed value of your permanent home in 2026, made up of $25,000 off all taxes and an inflation-indexed $26,411 off non-school taxes (Florida Department of Revenue, January 2026). See the homestead exemption guide.
- Save Our Homes: once a home has the homestead exemption, its assessed value can rise no more than 3% a year or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less (Department of Revenue, PT-112).
- Deadline: apply to your county property appraiser by March 1 (PT-113).
A buyer's first bill can be higher than the seller's, because the Save Our Homes limit ends when a home changes hands and the property is reassessed at market value the next January 1 (PT-112).
Monthly bills
Insurance and Utilities
Homeowners insurance is the cost newcomers most often underestimate. NAIC figures published by the Insurance Information Institute show Florida's average homeowners premium at $2,677 for 2022, the highest of any state and well above the U.S. average of $1,569. Premiums vary a great deal by the home's age, roof, location and wind cover, so get quotes during your inspection period.
Flood is separate. FEMA's FloodSmart site says most homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and a new flood policy usually takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Electricity costs less per unit than the national average. Florida's average residential price was 15.03 cents per kilowatt-hour in July 2026, against 18.31 cents for the U.S. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, released September 24, 2026). Summer air conditioning still makes for higher bills in the hot months.
Wages
What Jobs Pay Around Orlando
Mean hourly wages in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area, May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, released July 7, 2026).
| Job category | Orlando mean hourly | U.S. mean hourly |
|---|---|---|
| All jobs | $29.76 | $33.54 |
| Management | $62.99 | $69.84 |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical | $47.53 | $52.26 |
| Business and financial operations | $41.98 | $45.78 |
| Construction and extraction | $26.37 | $31.42 |
| Educational instruction and library | $26.42 | $32.47 |
| Sales and related | $23.67 | $26.43 |
| Office and administrative support | $22.97 | $24.79 |
| Food preparation and serving | $18.16 | $17.86 |
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, May 2025.
For a closer look at single jobs, the Bureau's May 2023 detailed table for the same metro area lists median hourly pay of $18.17 for customer service representatives, $19.19 for secretaries and administrative assistants, $22.01 for bookkeeping clerks and $34.15 for marketing specialists.
Questions
Cost of living questions
What does a home cost in Orlando?
Redfin put the median sale price at $414,726 in August 2026, down 1.2% from a year earlier.
What does rent cost in Orlando?
Zillow showed an average of $1,895 a month (updated October 7, 2026), and Apartment List a median of $1,522 (October 2026). The sources use different methods.
Does Florida have a state income tax?
Florida has no state personal income tax on residents (Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5). Sales tax is 6% plus a county surtax.
Is homeowners insurance expensive in Florida?
Yes. Florida's average homeowners premium was $2,677 in 2022, the highest of any state (NAIC data via the Insurance Information Institute). Your quote depends on the home.
How much does it cost to move to Orlando?
Budget for deposits, title and registration fees, and insurance as well.
Keep reading
Related pages
Ask Kris about costs in a specific town
Figures for a whole city only go so far. Call Kris to talk about prices, taxes and insurance for the town and kind of home you have in mind.
Kris Persaud · Watson Realty Corp. · 1390 N Hancock Rd, Clermont, FL 34711