True Cost of Renting in Orlando
Orlando is home to two of the world's largest theme park resort complexes, a major airport hub, and the University of Central Florida — one of the largest universities in the US. That diverse employment base creates rental demand across a wide geography, with rents ranging from under $1,400 in outer suburbs to $2,500+ in walkable urban neighborhoods near Downtown.
Neighborhoods & Average Rents
Lake Eola Heights
- Studio:
- $1,500/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $1,900/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $2,500/mo
Historic neighborhood adjacent to the iconic lake and Thornton Park; bungalow-style apartments mixed with newer buildings. Walkable to Downtown dining and the Farmer's Market. OUC electric rates are lower than FPL, keeping utility costs manageable.
Mills 50
- Studio:
- $1,300/mo
- 1 Bed:
- $1,700/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $2,200/mo
Eclectic arts corridor east of Downtown; older apartment stock with lower rents and a strong independent restaurant and coffee scene. LYNX bus access but car is helpful. Lower rents partially offset by older HVAC systems.
Lake Nona
- 1 Bed:
- $2,000/mo
- 2 Bed:
- $2,600/mo
Master-planned medical city 15 miles southeast of Downtown near Orlando International Airport. New construction apartments with modern amenities. Commute to theme park corridor via FL-417 is 25–35 minutes.
Utility Providers
- Electric
- Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
- Water
- City of Orlando Utilities (or Orange County Utilities depending on location)
- Internet
- Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, Brightspeed
Commute & Transportation
The I-4 corridor is Orlando's defining commute artery — and one of the most dangerous highways in the US by accident rate. The Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, and the International Drive tourism corridor employ over 75,000 people, concentrated in the SW quadrant of metro Orlando. Downtown Orlando on I-4 is 20–30 minutes from the theme park corridor without traffic, 45–60 minutes in peak hours. UCF sits 13 miles east of Downtown on SR-408. The new SunRail commuter rail connects DeLand to Poinciana with Downtown stops, but runs limited hours and doesn't reach the theme park corridor. Most Orlando employment requires a car.
Rental Market Overview
Orlando's rental market is shaped by two forces: hospitality and tourism wages (which suppress demand for luxury units) and the influx of remote workers and aerospace/tech relocations (which pushed Class A rents up 30%+ since 2021). The result is a bifurcated market — workforce housing below $1,600/mo competes with new construction Class A buildings at $2,000–2,800/mo. New apartment supply has been robust, keeping rent growth muted in 2024–2025. Tourism-sector renters often prefer proximity to employer bus shuttles to the resort corridor over Downtown location. Theme park shift workers frequently pay for a second car for reliability due to limited transit coverage.
Data last updated: 2026-04
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