Orlando vs. Miami: Which is Higher? (2023)

Orlando vs. Miami: Which is Higher? (2023)

While Miami has ‘the whole lot and everybody,’ you would wish when living in town, Orlando can also be a favourite to many, especially those preferring less populated cities, with more natural appeal. So where do you go?

Whether you’re planning a everlasting move, or simply visiting for vacation, these two cities positioned in Florida will at all times fall in your comparison. It’s a tough one to come to a decision. 

We did the research for you, so you possibly can have a much easier time making your decision, and begin planning to your favorite straight away!

From the associated fee of living to nightlife, weather, and public transportation, to cuisine, lifestyle, safety, and way more! So, let’s see who carries the day here, Orlando or Miami?

Cost of living

We compared several aspects in regard to the associated fee of living between the 2 cities; food and grocery, healthcare, utilities, transport, and entertainment. Here’s what we came upon:

Food and groceries

The food and groceries index in Miami is 107.3, while in Orlando it’s 100.7. Which means that food and groceries are about 6.6% costlier in Miami than in Orlando.

If, for every other reason you select Miami, there are methods you lower your expenses on food expenses by buying items in bulk, shopping at local markets, or planning meals rigorously.

Healthcare and utilities

Once we compared the healthcare index, it was barely higher in Miami (104) than in Orlando (103.4). This was 0.6% costlier than in Orlando.

Nevertheless, in the case of the associated fee of utilities, it was about 6.8% lower in Miami than in Orlando. The utility index in Miami is 95.5, while in Orlando it’s 102.3. 

Transport and entertainment costs

While the associated fee of utility is higher in Orlando, you may save way more while living in town in the case of transport than in Miami.

We found that the transport index in Miami was way higher (144.5) than in Orlando (110.1, which is a 23.8% difference. This cost includes things like the associated fee of gas, public transit, automobile maintenance, parking, and other expenses related to transportation.

Finally, within the entertainment sector, while many prefer to get the thrill in Miami, you should have to dig deep down into your pockets for the experience. For example, the common cost of a movie ticket in Miami is $14, while in Orlando it’s $11.

The common cost of gym membership in Miami is $40, while in Orlando it’s $30. The common cost of a restaurant meal in Miami is $15, while in Orlando it’s $123. These are some examples of how entertainment costs can vary depending in your preferences and lifestyle decisions.

Verdict: Orlando Wins

Weather

These two cities have different weather patterns and climates. Orlando is positioned within the central a part of the state, while Miami is on the southeastern coast. Which means that Orlando has a subtropical climate, while Miami has a tropical climate.

The predominant difference between the 2 cities is the humidity level. Miami is way more humid than Orlando, especially in the summertime months. The common relative humidity in Miami is around 75%, while in Orlando it’s around 71%. This will make Miami feel hotter and more uncomfortable than Orlando, even when the temperatures are similar. 

One other difference is the rainfall and storm frequency. Miami receives more rainfall than Orlando all year long, with a median of 157 cm per 12 months in comparison with 132 cm per 12 months.

Miami also has a better likelihood of experiencing tropical storms and hurricanes, especially from June to November. Orlando is less prone to be directly hit by a hurricane, but it may well still experience strong winds and heavy rain from nearby storms. 

Based on these aspects, we might say that Orlando has more favorable weather than Miami for most individuals. Orlando has lower humidity, less rainfall, and fewer risk of severe weather than Miami.

Verdict: Orlando Wins

Public Transportation

Now that is where the competition begins. When talking about public transportation, Orlando has three predominant modes of public transportation: Metrorail, Metrobus, and LYMMO. Miami has 4 predominant modes of public transportation: Metrorail, Metromover, Metrobus, and Brightline.

The predominant difference between the 2 cities is the coverage and accessibility of their public transportation networks. Miami has a more extensive and integrated public transportation system than Orlando, covering more areas and connecting more destinations.

Miami’s Metrorail is a 25-mile elevated rail system that runs from the Miami International Airport to the suburbs of Medley and Pinecrest, with connections to Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Orlando’s Metrorail can also be a 25-mile elevated rail system, however it only runs from the Orlando International Airport to Kendall, with no connections to other counties.

Metromover comparison

Miami’s Metromover is a free public transportation service that operates around Downtown Miami and Brickell, serving as a connection between Metrorail and Metrobus.

It has three loops that make stops at popular attractions comparable to the Kaseya Center, Maurice A. Ferré Park, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

Orlando’s LYMMO can also be a free public transportation service that operates around Downtown Orlando, serving as a connection between Metrorail and Metrobus.

It has 4 loops that make stops at attractions comparable to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Amway Center, Creative Village, Lake Eola, and LYNX Central Station.

Metrobus comparison

Miami’s Metro Bus serves various areas throughout town including Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, West Miami-Dade, Broward County, Homestead, Florida City, and the Middle Keys. It has 95 routes and is provided with bike racks and free Wi-Fi.

Orlando’s Metrobus also serves various areas throughout town including Winter Park, Downtown, and Disney World. It has 84 routes and can also be equipped with bike racks and free Wi-Fi.

Miami’s Brightline is an intercity express train that gives service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. It is predicted to expand to Orlando in 2023. Orlando doesn’t have the same service, however it has Amtrak trains that hook up with other cities in Florida and beyond.

Overall, Miami has a greater public transportation system than Orlando for many travelers. Miami has more modes of public transportation, more coverage of areas and destinations, more connections to other counties and cities, and more options totally free rides than Orlando.

Verdict: Miami Wins

Job Opportunities

Should you are relocating seeking job opportunities, you then will wish to read this before you choose. 

The predominant difference between the 2 cities is the unemployment rate and the common salary. In line with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2023, Orlando had an unemployment rate of 5.2%, while Miami had an unemployment rate of 6.8%. Which means that Orlando had more job openings and fewer competition than Miami. 

Nevertheless, Miami had a better average annual salary of $54,090, while Orlando had a lower average annual salary of $48,0604.

One other difference is the job growth and variety. In line with the U.S. News & World Report, Orlando ranked seventeenth among the many 150 best places to live within the U.S. when it comes to job market, while Miami ranked 67th.

Orlando had a projected annual job growth of two.6%, while Miami had a projected annual job growth of 1.9%. In other words, you should have more potential for profession advancement and development in Orlando than in Miami.

Nevertheless, Miami had a more diverse and multicultural workforce than Orlando, with more immigrants and minorities working in various fields.

Overall, we might say that Orlando has higher job opportunities than Miami for many employees. Orlando has lower unemployment, higher job growth, and more tourism-related jobs than Miami.

Verdict: Orlando Wins

Cuisine & Lifestyle

While each Orlando’s and Miami’s cuisines have been greatly influenced by Latin American and Caribbean cuisines, Miami has a more distinguished and varied presence of those cuisines than Orlando, because of its large immigrant and minority communities. 

Yow will discover authentic dishes from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and more in Miami’s restaurants and markets.

Orlando also has some Latin American and Caribbean options, but they’re less diverse and more focused on Cuban food. A number of the hottest dishes in Orlando include fritas, croquetas, empanadas, Cuban coffee, and flan.

One other difference is the life-style and entertainment options. Miami has a more vigorous nightlife than Orlando, with countless bars, clubs, lounges, and live music venues. Miami can also be famous for its art scene, with events like Art Basel Miami Beach, Wynwood Partitions, and the Design District attracting local and international artists and visitors.

Orlando has a more laid-back and family-friendly lifestyle than Miami, with a give attention to theme parks, sports, and outdoor activities. It is usually home to among the world’s hottest attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Harry Potter World. Orlando also offers loads of opportunities for nature lovers, with parks like Lake Eola, gardens like Leu Gardens, and trails like West Orange Trail.

Usually, Miami has more diversity, variety, and quality of food than Orlando, especially in the case of Latin American and Caribbean flavors. It also has more excitement, energy, and culture than Orlando in the case of nightlife and entertainment. 

Verdict: Miami Wins

Crime Rates 

In line with the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, in 2020, Orlando had a complete of 11,173 crimes, while Miami had a complete of 24,537 crimes. This shows that Orlando had a lower crime rate than Miami, with 4,239 crimes per 100,000 people, in comparison with 5,989 crimes per 100,000 people in Miami.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that Orlando is totally protected or that Miami is totally dangerous for you. Orlando has more protected areas but Miami has several protected neighborhoods too.

The predominant difference between the 2 cities is the distribution and nature of their crimes. Orlando has a better proportion of violent crimes than Miami, with 1,003 violent crimes per 100,000 people, in comparison with 792 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Miami.

Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. A number of the commonest violent crimes in Orlando are related to domestic violence, gang activity, and drug trafficking.

Miami has a better proportion of property crimes than Orlando, with 5,197 property crimes per 100,000 people, in comparison with 3,236 property crimes per 100,000 people in Orlando.

Property crimes include burglary, larceny theft, motorcar theft, and arson. A number of the commonest property crimes in Miami are related to automobile theft, fraud, and vandalism.

Overall, we might say that Orlando has a lower crime rate than Miami. Orlando has fewer crimes overall and fewer property crimes than Miami. 

Verdict: Orlando Wins

Commute Times

Orlando ranked thirty seventh amongst probably the most congested cities within the U.S., while Miami ranked twelfth. Which means that Orlando had less traffic than Miami, with a median of 21 hours lost per driver as a consequence of congestion, in comparison with 33 hours lost per driver in Miami.

But this doesn’t mean that Orlando is totally freed from traffic or that Miami is totally gridlocked. Each cities have peak hours and hot spots that could cause delays and frustration.

What brings the difference between the 2 cities is the supply and reliability of public transportation. As seen above,  Miami had a more extensive and integrated public transportation system than Orlando, covering more areas and connecting more destinations. 

 Coming up with a winner here is kind of hard, but based on traffic and time lost on the road, we might say that Orlando has higher commute times than Miami for less traffic and congestion, especially during off-peak hours and on weekends.

Verdict: Orlando Wins

Quality of life index

Orlando had a quality-of-life index of 169.64, while Miami had a quality-of-life index of 149.54. The result is predicated on a weighted average of eight sub-indices: purchasing power, safety, health care, cost of living, property price to income ratio, traffic commute time, pollution, and climate.

 For instance, a meal in a reasonable restaurant costs $15 in Orlando, while it costs $18 in Miami. Orlando also has a lower property price-to-income ratio than Miami, with an index of three.22, in comparison with 6.63 in Miami.

Because of this, Orlando has more cost-effective housing than Miami, relative to the common income. For instance, the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in town center is $1,400 in Orlando, while it’s $2,000 in Miami.

With these in mind, we are able to conclude that Orlando has a greater quality of life than Miami and may show you how to lower your expenses in the long term. 

Verdict: Orlando Wins

Orlando vs. Miami: Who Wins It?

The general comparison rating is Orlando 6, Miami 2. Nevertheless, depending on the explanations you must relocate, Miami might still be your selection, especially when considering things like cuisine and lifestyle.

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