FL → FL · Bay to Theme Parks

Moving from Tampa to Orlando?

Tampa to Orlando — both 0% income tax, similar housing, theme park economy and tech.

  • 85 mi Distance
  • 1.5 hr Drive time
  • 0% lower Home prices
  • 233 Sun days/year
The Story

Tampa-to-Orlando is short-haul intra-FL career move. Both 0% income tax, identical housing/COL. Pull: theme park economy (Disney 75K+ employees, Universal 25K+), tech (EA Tiburon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Deloitte hub), Lake Nona Medical City, central FL access (drive 90 min to either coast), more career runway than Tampa for some industries.

Why This Move

Why people move from Tampa to Orlando.

  • Both 0% income tax — preserve tax-free status
  • Theme park economy — Disney + Universal employ 100K+
  • Tech jobs — EA Tiburon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, AdventHealth tech
  • Lake Nona Medical City — UCF Medical, Nemours, VA Hospital
  • Central FL — 90 min drive to either coast
  • Orlando International — 50M+ passenger airport
  • Convention industry (largest in US after Vegas)
  • Lower humidity than Tampa Bay (slightly inland)
Cost Comparison

The money side of FL → FL.

Tampa

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

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 Tampa transplants.

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

  • Winter Park

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

  • College Park

    If Seminole Heights was your scene — walkable, hip, restaurants, family

  • Lake Nona (suburb)

    If Westchase was your model — master-planned medical/tech hub, top schools

  • Baldwin Park

    If Westshore was your goal — master-planned, walkable, family, lakes

  • Mills 50 / Audubon Park

    If Heights was your scene — walkable, Asian food district, hip, art

  • Dr. Phillips (suburb)

    If South Tampa was your model — 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 identical, COL identical — pure career/lifestyle move
  • Climate similar humid subtropical — Orlando slightly less humid
  • Beach access shrinks — Tampa is on the bay, Orlando is 60-90 min from coasts
  • Theme park economy dominates (live near work means living near parks)
  • Tourism culture more pervasive (year-round visitors)
  • Hurricane risk similar — both Central FL get same storms
  • Sports — gain Magic, lose Buccaneers/Lightning/Rays
Driving Routes

How to drive there.

  • I-4 E

    85 miles direct via Lakeland. 1.5 hours, easy day move.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 85 miles.

  • Full-service (3BR)$1,800-$3,500
  • Container/PODS$1,400-$2,500
  • DIY (26-ft truck)$900-$1,800
  • Best monthsNov-May (avoid hurricane season + summer heat)
  • Lead time2-4 weeks ahead

FL intrastate — no DOT change needed

Common Questions

Moving from Tampa to Orlando: FAQ.

Why move 85 miles?

Career-driven. Orlando has different industries (theme parks, tech, conventions) than Tampa (finance, healthcare, port/military). Many movers commute back to Tampa monthly for family/friends. The drive is easy, makes intra-FL relocation low-risk.

Will I miss Tampa Bay?

Yes — beaches gone (90 min to Cocoa or Daytona; 90 min back to Tampa). Most movers visit Tampa beaches 6-12 times/year for weekend trips. Some pick Lakeland (between Tampa/Orlando) as compromise — 35 min to either.

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