Moving from Orlando to Lakeland
Your paycheck buys slightly more in Lakeland than in Orlando (+4.4%). Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Lakeland: $76,100
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $76,100 in Lakeland, FL to match $80,000 in Orlando, FL ($3,900 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Both are in Florida, which has no state income tax on wages; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Orlando vs Lakeland: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,877 → $1,484/mo
- Median home value
- $409,400 → $305,400
- Median household income
- $81,044 → $66,779
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 101.4 → 97.1
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (95.3 → 96.5 of 100)
Orlando vs Lakeland cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Orlando, FL | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 101.4 | 97.1 |
| Median rent | $1,877 | $1,484 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $75,080 | $59,360 |
| Median home value | $409,400 | $305,400 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $2,627 | $2,012 |
| Income needed to buy | $112,572 | $86,229 |
| Median property tax | $3,012 | $2,245 |
| State income tax on $80,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Metro population | 2,940,513 | 852,878 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Orlando vs Lakeland
On an $80,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $51,409 a year in Orlando and $46,693 in Lakeland if you rent: $4,716 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $60,405 and $53,029 ($7,376 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | OrlandoBefore | LakelandAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $80,000, single filer | $14,890 | $14,890 | $0 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,873 | $1,873 | $0 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,865 | $1,865 | $0 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,061 | $2,061 | $0 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $8,196 | $8,196 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $22,524 | $17,808 | -$4,716 |
| Total if you rent | $51,409 | $46,693 | -$4,716 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $26,016 | $19,407 | -$6,609 |
| Property tax median home | $3,012 | $2,245 | -$767 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $2,492 | $2,492 | $0 |
| Total if you buy | $60,405 | $53,029 | -$7,376 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $13,011 a year in Orlando and $13,011 in Lakeland (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Orlando to Lakeland
About 8,908 households (16,590 people) moved from the Orlando metro area to the Lakeland metro area in 2022–2023, making Lakeland the #1 destination for people leaving Orlando among the 149 metro areas we cover. 5,458 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $46,505.
Cost to move from Orlando to Lakeland
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 60 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Orlando vs Lakeland
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Orlando area among the highest (score 95.3) and the Lakeland area among the highest (score 96.5), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $287 vs $294 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakeland cheaper than Orlando?
Overall prices in the Lakeland area are 4.2% lower than in Orlando (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,484 vs $1,877 a month, and the median home is $305,400 vs $409,400.
What salary do I need in Lakeland to match $100,000 in Orlando?
About $95,200, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Both are in Florida, which has no state income tax on wages.
How much does it cost to move from Orlando to Lakeland?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 60 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Orlando to Lakeland?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 8,908 households (16,590 people) moved from the Orlando metro area to the Lakeland metro area, and 5,458 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Orlando move
- Orlando to Daytona Beach 5,884 households
- Orlando to Miami 4,351 households
- Orlando to Tampa 4,248 households
- Orlando to Palm Bay 2,482 households
- Orlando to New York 2,465 households
- Orlando to Ocala 2,039 households
- Orlando to Jacksonville 1,746 households
- Orlando to Atlanta 1,523 households