Moving from San Francisco to Orlando

The Story

SF-to-Orlando is dramatic cost exit + theme park career move. CA 9.3-13.3% → FL 0% saves $9,300+/yr. Housing 69% CHEAPER, COL 57% lower. Pull: theme park economy (Disney + Universal employ 100K+), tech (EA Tiburon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft), Lake Nona, no CA fires/quakes. Disney corporate transfers from CA to FL accelerated post-2020.

Why This Move

Why people move from San Francisco to Orlando.

Housing 69% cheaper — $1.2M SF becomes $370K Orlando (3x+ space)
CA 9.3-13.3% drops to FL 0% — saves $9,300+/year on $100K
Cost of living 57% lower
Theme park economy — Disney + Universal employ 100K+
Tech jobs — EA Tiburon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, AdventHealth
No CA wildfire/earthquake risk
Lake Nona Medical City — UCF Medical, Nemours
Convention industry (largest in US after Vegas)

Cost Comparison

The money side of CA → FL.

San Francisco

Median home$1,200,000
Income tax9.3-13.3% (CA top)
Cost index244

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 San Francisco transplants.

Mapped to the San Francisco neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

Winter Park

If Berkeley was your vibe — walkable historic, restaurants, brick streets, top schools
College Park

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

If Burlingame was your model — master-planned medical/tech hub, top schools
Baldwin Park

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

If Mission Hill was your scene — walkable, hip, art
Dr. Phillips (suburb)

If Atherton was your speed — affluent, top schools, family, 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 69% cheaper — same income buys 3x+ more space
CA 9.3-13.3% becomes FL 0% — $9,300+/year saved on $100K
COL 57% lower — transformative
Climate flips marine West Coast to humid subtropical — gain humidity, hurricane risk
BART/Muni → LYNX (massive transit downgrade)
Hurricane risk arrives (Central FL still gets storms)
Theme park economy dominates
Sports — gain Magic, lose Giants/49ers/Warriors

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-80 E to I-10 E to FL Turnpike

2,810 miles via Reno, SLC, OKC, Houston, New Orleans. 43 hours / 5 days.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 2,810 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$9,500-$17,000
Container/PODS$6,500-$10,500
DIY (26-ft truck)$5,000-$8,800
Best monthsOct-May (avoid hurricane season)
Lead time10-12 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions