Median rent is 20% lower in Philadelphia ($1,397/mo vs $1,747/mo). Buying is cheaper in Philadelphia, where the median home runs $243,100 versus $394,100. Households earn more in Orlando ($72,336 vs $61,953 a year). Taken together, Orlando is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 101.6 against 102.4 — about 1% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Orlando, FL.
Cost of living verdict
Orlando is 1% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 101.6 in Orlando vs 102.4 in Philadelphia (US national average = 100)
City A
Orlando, FL
City B
Philadelphia, PA
How much would you need to earn in Philadelphia, PA to maintain your standard of living from Orlando, FL?
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$75,571
You'd need $571 more (1% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Orlando
Florida
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Philadelphia at $1,397/mo compared to $1,747/mo in Orlando (20% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Orlando: the median home is $394,100 versus $243,100 in Philadelphia — 38% more expensive.
Metric
Orlando
Philadelphia
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Orlando
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Philadelphia
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Orlando averages 54.0 AQI (Moderate) and Philadelphia averages 54.0 AQI (Moderate).
Pick Orlando if you prioritize higher median household income ($72,336/yr).
Pick Philadelphia if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,397/mo median).
Orlando is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 101.6 versus 102.4 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 1% lower in Orlando.
Median rent is $1,747/mo in Orlando, FL and $1,397/mo in Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia, PA has the lower rent by about 20%.
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando, FL and $61,953 in Philadelphia, PA. Orlando, FL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Philadelphia, PA has better air quality on average: 54.0 AQI versus 54.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Orlando, FL is equivalent to roughly $100,761 in Philadelphia, PA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
