Moving from Orlando to St. Louis

The Story

Orlando-to-STL is Disney/Lockheed → Boeing Defense + Wash U move. FL 0% → MO 5.95% costs $5,950/yr. Housing 36% CHEAPER ($370K → $235K), COL 15% lower. Pull: Boeing Defense (F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 — Lockheed Orlando direct aerospace bridge), Washington University medical, Edward Jones, Anheuser-Busch.

Why This Move

Why people move from Orlando to St. Louis.

Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production
Lockheed Martin Orlando → Boeing STL Defense direct aerospace bridge
Washington University medical — top NIH-funded research
Anheuser-Busch HQ + Edward Jones
BJC HealthCare + Mercy networks
36% cheaper housing — major savings
15% lower COL
Cardinals + Blues sports passion

Cost Comparison

The money side of FL → MO.

Orlando

Median home$370,000
Income tax0% (FL)
Cost index99

St. Louis

Median home$235,000
Income tax4.95% MO + 1% STL (~5.95%)
Cost index84

What to Do in St. Louis

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

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

Outdoors & Recreation

Forest Park — 1,300 acres (50% larger than Central Park) with FREE zoo, art museum, history museum, science center
Missouri Botanical Garden — 1859 garden; Climatron, Japanese Garden, 79 acres

Culture & Arts

Gateway Arch National Park — 630-ft Eero Saarinen arch (1965); newest US national park
Saint Louis Art Museum (free) — Free admission in Forest Park; encyclopedic collection
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour — Free Clydesdale stable + tour; iconic brewery since 1852
Busch Stadium (Cardinals) — MLB Cardinals; 11 World Series titles (most NL)
The Hill (Italian district) — Italian neighborhood — birthplace of toasted ravioli
Cahokia Mounds (15 min E in IL) — UNESCO World Heritage; pre-Columbian mound city

Family-Friendly

St. Louis Zoo (free) — Top-ranked US zoo — admission is free
City Museum — 10-story repurposed shoe factory turned playground; rooftop ferris wheel

Where to Eat

St. Louis's essential restaurants.

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

Niche / Sidney Street Cafe Modern American Benton Park

Gerard Craft (James Beard winner)
Pastaria Italian Clayton

Gerard Craft — wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta
Pappy's Smokehouse BBQ Midtown

Memphis-style ribs; cult favorite
Bogart's Smokehouse BBQ Soulard

Pappy's offshoot; brisket and burnt ends
Imo's Pizza St. Louis pizza Multiple

Cracker-thin crust, Provel cheese — STL-style icon
Charlie Gitto's Italian The Hill

Original toasted ravioli inventor (allegedly)
Kingside Diner Diner Multiple

Classic American breakfast/diner
Vicia Modern vegetable-forward Central West End

Michael + Tara Gallina; James Beard nominees

Where to Live

Best St. Louis neighborhoods for Orlando transplants.

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

Central West End

If Thornton Park was your scene — walkable urban, restaurants
Soulard

If College Park was your vibe — historic, walkable, breweries
The Hill

If you wanted Italian/foodie — walkable, charming
Clayton (suburb)

If Lake Nona was your model — affluent, top schools, walkable
Webster Groves (suburb)

If you wanted historic suburb — top schools, charm
Kirkwood (suburb)

If Winter Park was your scene — top schools, walkable

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in St. Louis.

Climate

Humid continental. Hot, humid summers (68-89°F). Cold winters (25-43°F) with 17 inches snow. Spring tornado/storm risk. 41 inches rainfall, 202 sun days.

Summer68-89°F
Winter25-43°F
Sun days/yr202
Rainfall41 inches

Walkability

Walk Score64/100
Transit Score47/100
Bike Score52/100

St. Louis is somewhat walkable in central neighborhoods, car-dependent in suburbs.

Outdoors & Recreation

Forest Park — 1,300 acres with free zoo, museums, golf, lakes
Missouri Botanical Garden — 79 acres
Tower Grove Park — 289 acres Victorian park
Mississippi Riverfront — Gateway Arch grounds and beyond
Castlewood State Park (30 min west) — bluffs, hiking, mountain biking
Forest Park bike paths and Trolley Trail

Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

FL 0% becomes MO 5.95% — costs $5,950/year on $100K
Housing 36% CHEAPER — $370K Orlando becomes $235K STL
COL 15% lower
Climate flips humid subtropical to humid continental — real winters
Property tax MO 1.0% similar to FL 0.9%
Car-dependent both
Lockheed Orlando aerospace → Boeing STL Defense direct bridge
Sports — gain Cardinals/Blues, lose Magic

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-75 N to I-64 W

1,050 miles via Atlanta, Nashville, Louisville. 16 hours / 2 days.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 1,050 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$5,200-$9,500
Container/PODS$3,800-$6,000
DIY (26-ft truck)$2,800-$5,000
Best monthsApr-Oct (avoid winter)
Lead time6-8 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions