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Orlando
#31 of 124
North America

Orlando

FL, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Orlando compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Orlando is 25% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Orlando compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$118,500
-$155K (-57%) vs San Francisco
Based on 247 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$84,491
-$88K (-51%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 29%

Community Insights

New
7.2/10

Orlando offers a compelling financial case for software engineers, combining a high median salary ($120k) with no state income tax and a reasonable cost of living. While it isn't a Silicon Valley-style generalist hub, it is a powerhouse for specialized sectors like defense, aerospace, and simulation. Residents enjoy high purchasing power and year-round sunshine, but the trade-off includes a heavy reliance on cars due to poor public transit and severe traffic congestion. The lifestyle is heavily influenced by tourism and the subtropical climate, which means dealing with humidity and hurricanes. For those established in defense or looking for a family-friendly environment with disposable income, it is an attractive option, but career climbers seeking rapid startup growth may find the market slower.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 10%

#12

of 124 cities

≈2.7 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

34.5/100

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Orlando compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,862 / m²
71% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Orlando to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
35% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Orlando

Disney logo
Disney
L3Harris logo
L3Harris
Lockheed Martin logo
Lockheed Martin
No state income tax, which significantly boosts take-home pay compared to other tech hubs
  • Strong niche job market for defense, aerospace, and simulation (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman) and gaming/entertainment tech (EA, Disney)
  • Cost of living is relatively affordable (ranked #81/124) compared to the high median SWE salary ($120k), offering high purchasing power
  • Year-round warm weather and sunshine (2900 hours/year), ideal for those who dislike cold winters
  • Abundance of entertainment and leisure options, from world-class theme parks to nearby beaches and springs
  • Growing tech community with active meetups and a push for innovation in the 'Creative Village' downtown district

    • The Bad

    • Public transportation is virtually non-existent; owning a car is mandatory and traffic on I-4 is notoriously bad
    • Salaries for generalist software roles often lag behind national averages for top-tier hubs (though defense/cleared roles pay better)
    • Weather can be oppressive with extreme humidity, daily thunderstorms in summer, and the annual threat of hurricanes
    • The 'tourist trap' atmosphere can be draining, with crowded amenities and a transient population feel in some areas
    • Sprawl is significant; commuting from affordable suburbs to tech hubs in Research Park or Lake Nona can take a long time
    • Limited career mobility outside of the defense and hospitality sectors compared to cities with a broader startup ecosystem

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Moving to Orlando is moderate; while the city is culturally open and accustomed to newcomers due to tourism, the US visa system remains a significant hurdle for non-citizens (requiring H-1B, L-1, or O-1 sponsorship). English is the primary language, though Spanish is widely spoken, easing the transition for Latin American expats. Finding housing is straightforward, but buying a car immediately upon arrival is essential for daily life.

    Who Is This City For?

    Defense and aerospace engineers seeking stability, families looking for affordable housing and entertainment, and tax-conscious professionals who don't mind driving. It is less ideal for early-stage startup founders or those who rely on public transportation.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather5.7/10-34% vs San Francisco
    Safety51+28%
    Pollution35-30%
    Events0-100%
    5.7/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    28°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    18°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,900h/yr-162h/yr(-5%)
    Hottest Month High
    32°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    11°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    129/yr+80/yr(+165%)

    Community & Quality

    Orlando community pulse

    Orlando has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Net Income

    Top 27%

    #33

    of 124 cities

    $84,491/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Top 31%

    #38

    of 124 cities

    57/100 weather score

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Top 31%

    #39

    of 124 cities

    29%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Safety Index

    Middle of the pack

    #77

    of 124 cities

    50.5/100

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 34%

    #83

    of 124 cities

    57/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 16%

    #106

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    2.7 years
    1.9 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    186/yr+186/yr(+92900%)
    Cloud Cover
    47%(vs 34% in San Francisco)