Moving from Houston to Orlando

The Story

Houston-to-Orlando preserves 0% income tax. Housing 42% pricier ($260K → $370K), COL 9% higher. Pull: theme park economy (Disney + Universal employ 100K+), Lake Nona Medical City, tech (EA Tiburon, Lockheed Martin), property tax savings, family-friendly.

Why This Move

Why people move from Houston to Orlando.

Both 0% income tax — preserve tax-free status
Theme park economy — Disney + Universal employ 100K+
Tech jobs — EA Tiburon, Lockheed Martin (Houston aerospace bridge), Microsoft, AdventHealth
Lake Nona Medical City — UCF Medical, Nemours, VA Hospital
Convention industry (largest in US after Vegas)
Orlando International — 50M+ passenger airport
Property taxes lower (FL 0.9% vs TX 1.6-2.3%) — significant offset
Family-friendly culture

Cost Comparison

The money side of TX → FL.

Houston

Median home$260,000
Income tax0% (TX)
Cost index96

Orlando

Median home$370,000
Income tax0% (FL)
Cost index105

What to Do in Orlando

Things you'll want to know about your new city.

Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Orlando, organized by what kind of day you're planning.

Outdoors & Recreation

Lake Eola Park — Downtown lake, swan boats, farmers market Sundays
Harry P. Leu Gardens — 50-acre botanical garden in Orlando
Wekiwa Springs State Park — Crystal-clear spring; tubing, kayaking

Culture & Arts

Orlando Museum of Art — Notable American art collection

Family-Friendly

Walt Disney World — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom
Universal Orlando Resort — Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure + Volcano Bay
SeaWorld Orlando — Marine park with rides; Discovery Cove sister park
Kennedy Space Center (1 hr east) — Active rocket launch site; Atlantis exhibit
ICON Park — International Drive entertainment complex; Ferris wheel
Gatorland — 1949 'Alligator Capital of the World'; zip line over alligators

Where to Eat

Orlando's essential restaurants.

The dining list every Orlando resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.

Capa Spanish Lake Buena Vista (Four Seasons)

Michelin-starred Spanish from Andrew Zimmerman
Soseki Modern Omakase Japanese Winter Park

Counter-style omakase
Kadence Sushi tasting Audubon Park

9-seat omakase counter
Sette Italian Lake Nona

Modern Italian; chef Eric Schmidt
Black Rooster Taqueria Mexican Mills 50 District

Cult-favorite tacos
The Boheme American Downtown (Grand Bohemian)

Hotel restaurant with chef-driven menu
Chau's Cafe Vietnamese Mills 50

Best banh mi in town
Ravenous Pig Gastropub Winter Park

Farm-to-table; brewery

Where to Live

Best Orlando neighborhoods for Houston transplants.

Mapped to the Houston neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

Winter Park

If The Heights was your vibe — walkable historic, restaurants, top schools
College Park

If Montrose was your scene — walkable, hip, restaurants
Lake Nona (suburb)

If Sugar Land was your model — master-planned medical/tech hub
Baldwin Park

If Memorial was your goal — master-planned, walkable, family
Mills 50 / Audubon Park

If you wanted hip/walkable — Asian food district, art
Dr. Phillips (suburb)

If River Oaks was your speed — affluent, top schools, near Disney

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in Orlando.

Climate

Humid subtropical. Hot, humid summers (72-93°F, May-Oct) with daily afternoon thunderstorms. Mild winters (50-72°F). Hurricane season June-November (inland is safer than coast). 233 sun days/year.

Summer72-92°F
Winter50-72°F
Sun days/yr233
Rainfall51 inches

Walkability

Walk Score41/100
Transit Score33/100
Bike Score55/100

Orlando is car-dependent — most errands require driving.

Outdoors & Recreation

Wekiwa Springs State Park — crystal spring, tubing, swimming
Lake Eola — downtown park with swan boats
Kayaking on Winter Park's Chain of Lakes
St. Cloud Lake — boating, fishing
Atlantic beaches (1 hr east) — Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna
Gulf beaches (90 min west) — Clearwater, St. Pete

Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

Housing 42% pricier — $260K Houston becomes $370K Orlando
COL 9% higher
Both 0% income tax — no change
Climate similar humid subtropical — Orlando perpetual summer
Property taxes lower (FL 0.9% vs TX 1.6-2.3%) — significant offset
Hurricane risk continues (different storm patterns)
Energy industry → theme park/healthcare
Sports — gain Magic, lose Texans/Astros/Rockets

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-10 E to FL Turnpike

970 miles via New Orleans, Tallahassee. 15 hours / 1-2 days.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 970 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$4,800-$8,800
Container/PODS$3,400-$5,800
DIY (26-ft truck)$2,500-$4,500
Best monthsOct-Apr (avoid hurricane season)
Lead time6-8 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions