What BestPlaces Users Say about Orlando
Orlando, Florida is a popular tourist destination known for its theme parks and warm climate. However, many people also call this city their home. With a population of over 2.5 million, Orlando offers a diverse community and a plethora of job opportunities. However, like any city, it also has its own set of drawbacks such as high humidity and traffic congestion.
According to a user review by John Smith, Orlando is "a great place to live if you love sunny weather and outdoor activities." He also mentions how the city has a "vibrant and diverse culture" and is "very welcoming to newcomers." Similarly, Sarah Rodriguez notes in her review that "the people in Orlando are friendly and welcoming, making it easy to make new friends." She also praises the city's "booming economy and job market." On the other hand, Michael Johnson shares his experience of living in Orlando and states, "The cost of living here is high, especially housing and insurance." He also mentions the "long commutes and traffic congestion" as major downsides of living in the city. Lastly, in a review by Emily Jones, she mentions how "the food scene in Orlando is amazing, with a variety of cuisines to choose from." She also appreciates the "family-friendly atmosphere" and the "constant events and festivals happening in the city." Overall, these user reviews highlight the positive aspects of living in Orlando such as the weather, economy, and culture, while also acknowledging the challenges of high living costs and traffic.
based on 237 ReviewsGet to know Orlando with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Orlando
To Laurie... - 3/27/2006
You were wondering about the cost of living here? I was born and raised here in Orlando and will be the first (and not the last) to tell you that the cost of living here is OUT OF CONTROL. There is no way that an average paid person can afford their own home here. The average house is priced upwards of $300,000 (as said on here before) and the salary is the same as anywhere else in the country with cheaper homes. There is no reason that it should be this way here (as Orlando has little or nothing to offer.) I would seriously evaluate the situation before you move here. I am moving out of state at the end of this year as I can no longer afford to even rent my apartment ($1,100/month.) There are MANY apartment conversions going on all around the area and although it is said to be leveling off, there aren't a lot of places to choose from anymore. Also bear in mind, that while we are in the central part of the state, we STILL see hurricane activity and there are STILL blue tarps
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Wondering??? - 3/10/2006
I am thinking of moving to Florida from Wisconsin. I was wondering what the cost of living is in Florida. And any other
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Too much cost - not enough money - 2/28/2006
The wages are not keeping up with the cost of housing, gas and just about everything else here. Our teachers are leaving here and around the state because of the low pay. They just cannot afford to live here when there are better paying positions elsewhere. You cannot live without a car because the public transportation does not adequately reach outside the core of the city into the many neighborhoods that are popping up all around. The median house cost is now over $300,000. That is a lot when the average wage is still what it was 20 years ago or so. I bought my house in 1979 for $71,000 and because of the higher priced homes being built around us and the general cost of homes going up, it is now worth over the $300,000 mark and until we retired, we were still earning in the same pay range as when we purchased it. We could not afford to purchase our home right now. I know we are not
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Don't move here if you're under 30 and planning to - 2/12/2006
Housing costs are out of control here...a decent 3/2 home starts at $250K+-INSANE! As a result of this, it is driving up rent prices too. I have a decent sized one-bedroom and it is running me $825/month, and I would grade it as slightly above average. Two bedrooms minimum will cost you $1000/month. On top of all of this, the summers here are miserable (unless you really like sweating) and restaurants are overpriced because of tourists. Traffic here actually isn't terrible, but I moved from Dallas. A lot of drivers here are pretty bad though. The biggest problem here is infrastructure...it really sucks. All the roads are falling apart. The only decent roads are the toll roads.
Bottom line-if you do move here make sure you get a cost of living bump...because sites like bestplaces.net were not reflecting the housing boom in their cost of living numbers in April-May 2005 yet, and I got screwed as a result. Cover all your bases...This is definitely a difficult place for
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the good, the bad, and the boring - 2/3/2006
i lived in orlando for years, and enjoyed the great restaurants, beautiful parks, and great library. on the down side, homes cost too much, there is a severe lack of culture, high crime, and way too much
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Let's be honest - 12/26/2005
The mayor was entirely elected by pandering to the gays, developers, and lying ot the poor. Would you want to rais your kids in a place like
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Well Educated Parent Gives Two Thumbs Up for Orlan - 12/15/2005
I am a well educated parent who appreciates culture and I LOVE ORLANDO! Who can even begin to say that there is nothing to do in Orlando when people from all over the world come here to be entertained and enjoy the variety of things there are to experience here. (I might add a lot of the entertainment in and around Orlando is FREE as well.)
I have lived in the Orlando area for over 12 years and I have not even begun to take in all the many things there are to do in Orlando because well, there is just so much to do.
Orlando has a lovely downtown area brimming with coffee shops, trendy restaurants that are lined along street sides with palm trees swaying beneath that serotonin rich Florida sunshine. Yes, the traffic is bad here in certain areas, but in my many travels up north I have noticed a great deal of traffic, clutter and high crime up north as well.
Housing is expensive in Orlando, but it's that way in most of the good urban places. Also, there are a variety
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Price and Crime - 12/14/2005
Since living in "The City Beautiful", I have encountered 3 car robberies, and a home invasion, and I am not the only one expierencing a number of crimes in such a short period of time. I have only lived here 3 years. 2 by UCF, and the other by SeaWorld. Not even "bad" neighbourhoods, and it seems like every month there is a notice on my door saying all the crimes that had occured in that apt. complex recently, and of course how the apt. management has no liability to any of the crimes committed....Next is the price of housing. In the past year alone Orlando is the #1 metro in the nation for apt.'s converted in to condos, and not affordable ones either. Average is around 300,000, and good luck finding any sort of rental downtown. The apartments left avaliable for rental are few and far between. It seems you cannot find a decent 2 bed/ 2 bath for less than 850, and that was when I was on the market for one a year ago, I'm sure the price has risen since. However the increasing
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Lacking EVRYTHING one wants from a city - 12/11/2005
Ahhhh, Orlando.
Land of strip malls, daily bank robberies, WalMart SUPER Centers and overcrowded roads with unyielding drivers with absolutely no traffic sense, skills. I've never witnessed so many drivers speeding, recklessly, with cops paying no attention at all. (I've lived both in NYC and Boston--yes, traffic is awful, but drivers are at least somewhat skilled in getting where they need to be).
Orlando is awful. Dirty. Crime ridden. Absolutely NO culture, entertainment, nothing close to a real city, no unique districts or subsets of downtown (oh, OK, "Antique Row" which has 3 or 4 pathetic shops...Thornton Park, which tries hard to be trendy and cosmopolitan but just doesn't hit the mark). Transportation is awful (ONE major interstate through the entire city.....the rest are toll roads). Downtown sleeps after 5 PM, with the exception of Orange Avenue...which itself is odd; strange. Hip-hop clubs and white trash bars, attracting wanna be thugs and
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