Raleigh-Cary Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Unfavorable
Cost Index: 98.2 → 101.4
Rent Delta: +$222/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - 3% higher cost of living
  • - $222/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $3K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Raleigh-Cary to Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 98.2 to 101.4 (100 = US average), so a Raleigh-Cary salary needs to be multiplied by 1.03 to hold the same purchasing power in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,750/month in Raleigh-Cary to $1,972/month in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford - a higher monthly bill of $222, or $2,664/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $68,693 in Raleigh-Cary versus $65,387 in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford - a raw gap of $3,306 lower. The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford labor market has 1,382,410 tracked jobs against 725,130 in Raleigh-Cary, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Raleigh-Cary and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford are 365 and 210 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 15.8:1 at origin versus 17.8:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $9,487/year in Raleigh-Cary versus $10,505/year in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford. Our composite verdict - Unfavorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Raleigh-Cary
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 98.2
RPP 101.4
Raleigh-Cary
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,750/mo
$1,972/mo
Raleigh-Cary
💼 Wages
$68,693
$65,387
Raleigh-Cary
🔒 Crime
365 per 100K
210 per 100K
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
🎓 Schools
15.8:1
17.8:1
Raleigh-Cary
👶 Childcare
$9,487/yr
$10,505/yr
Raleigh-Cary
🌿 Environment
2788 violations
2676 violations
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Raleigh-Cary to see what you'd need to earn in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford more expensive than Raleigh-Cary?
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford has an RPP of 101.4 compared to Raleigh-Cary's 98.2 (100 = national average). Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford is $1,972/mo vs $1,750/mo in Raleigh-Cary.
What are salaries like in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford compared to Raleigh-Cary?
The median salary in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford is $65,387 compared to $68,693 in Raleigh-Cary. That's a -$3,306 difference.
Is Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford safer than Raleigh-Cary?
The violent crime rate near Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford is 210 per 100K vs 365 per 100K near Raleigh-Cary (state-level data). Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford to match my Raleigh-Cary salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Raleigh-Cary salary by 1.03. For example, a $75,000 salary in Raleigh-Cary would need to be $77,492 in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Unfavorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Unfavorable" means the origin clearly wins on most dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

Explore PlainRelocate

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)