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Mohamed Oun
Orlando
#27 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 24% 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
$120,000
-$152K (-56%) vs San Francisco
Based on 222 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$85,560
-$87K (-50%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 29%

Community Insights

New

Orlando presents a mixed bag for software engineers. On paper, it offers a compelling financial case with no state income tax and a lower cost of living than coastal tech giants. However, the reality for locals is increasingly strained by soaring housing costs—specifically due to an insurance crisis—and stagnant local wages.

The tech scene is stable but specialized, dominated by defense contracting and entertainment technology. It is not a startup haven or a generalist tech hub like Austin or Seattle. Engineers often find the best financial balance by working remotely for out-of-state companies while living in Orlando, rather than relying on the local job market's compensation.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents express a growing sense of frustration with the cost of living. While transplants from expensive cities often still see Orlando as a 'bargain,' long-term locals feel squeezed by rent hikes and insurance premiums that outpace local salary growth.

There is a common sentiment that the city is 'full', citing worsening traffic and infrastructure that hasn't kept up with the population boom. However, many still appreciate the lifestyle benefits—the food scene, proximity to beaches (an hour away), and entertainment—if they can secure a well-paying remote or defense role.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 7%

#9

of 124 cities

≈2.6 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 22%

#27

of 124 cities

Net Income

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

$85,560/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$2,833 / m²
72% 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
Northrop Grumman logo
Northrop Grumman
Lockheed Martin logo
Lockheed Martin

The Good

  • No state income tax increases take-home pay significantly compared to other tech hubs.
  • Strong job market in defense, aerospace, and simulation (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman) and entertainment tech (Disney, Universal).
  • Relative housing affordability compared to cities like San Francisco or NYC, allowing engineers to buy homes sooner (though insurance is a caveat).
  • Access to world-class entertainment, theme parks, and dining scenes which are great for families and social life.
  • Warm weather year-round, appealing to those escaping cold northern winters.
  • Growing tech community with meetups and a developing downtown creative village, though not yet a major startup hub.

The Bad

  • Skyrocketing home insurance rates and rent hikes are a major financial stressor, often offsetting the lack of income tax.
  • Local tech salaries are frequently reported as lower than national averages, often failing to keep up with the rising cost of living.
  • Traffic and infrastructure are top complaints; the city is sprawling and car-dependent with unreliable public transit (SunRail is limited).
  • Intense heat and humidity for much of the year can be oppressive for those not used to tropical climates.
  • Sprawl makes commuting difficult; living near work is essential but often expensive.
  • The tourist-heavy nature of the city can lead to crowded amenities and a transient feeling in some neighborhoods.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers earning high salaries from California or New York who want to maximize their income via tax savings.

Professionals specializing in simulation, defense, or aerospace, as this is the city's strongest local tech sector.

Families and Disney enthusiasts who value proximity to theme parks and year-round outdoor activities over walkability.

Skip it if...

Junior engineers looking for high-growth startup ecosystems or top-tier FAANG compensation locally.

People who despise driving; the city is aggressively car-dependent with poor public transit.

Those sensitive to extreme heat, as the summers are long, humid, and intense.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather5.7/10-34% vs San Francisco
Safety52+32%
Pollution35-29%
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.

Pollution Score

Top 27%

#33

of 124 cities

34.8/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Top 31%

#38

of 124 cities

57/100 weather score

Current value

Tax Rate

Top 31%

#38

of 124 cities

29%

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#71

of 124 cities

52/100

Current value

Cost of Living

Bottom 34%

#83

of 124 cities

58/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Bottom 18%

#103

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

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