Moving from Houston, TX to Orlando, FL
Relocating 979 mi from Houston to Orlando is a 17h 59m drive through 5 state(s). At long-haul distance the move touches nearly every household line item — rent or mortgage, utilities, tax withholding, climate load. This page sets the two cities side by side on each data layer.
979 mi · 17h 59m by car · TX → LA → MS → AL → FL
Distance & route
| Route through | TX → LA → MS → AL → FL |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, I 75, I 12 |
| Major cities en route | Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena, League City, Beaumont |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Houston | Orlando | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 98.629 | 101.418 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 95.288 | 87.196 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 100.639 | 96.24 | 100.0 |
| Services | 104.51 | 123.374 | 100.0 |
Houston and Orlando sit within 5% on the overall BEA RPP — the composite diff is small, but rent or groceries alone may move more.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Zillow ZHVI climbs from $264,336 in Houston to $374,136 in Orlando, a 2.8% increase on the typical home value.
YoY change: Houston -2.9%, Orlando -3.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Houston | Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 71°F | 73°F |
| January avg low | 44°F | 50°F |
| July avg high | 93°F | 92°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 54.1" | 51.5" |
Climate is roughly comparable on the annual mean — 70.6°F vs 73.0°F per NOAA 1991–2020 normals.
Snowfall is a non-factor at the destination: Orlando sees under an inch a year per NOAA normals.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: HOUSTON-PORT, TX US, ORLANDO INTL AP, FL US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Houston | Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | 311,732 |
| Median household income | $62,894 | $69,268 |
| Median age | 34.3 | 35.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 26.1% |
| Avg household size | 2.51 | 2.46 |
ACS 2023 shows median household income 2.8% higher in Orlando than Houston.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Orlando MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 181,030 | $39,680 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 159,660 | $30,310 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 150,100 | $35,810 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 118,970 | $36,790 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 93,670 | $73,450 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between Texas and Florida
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Florida's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Orlando average 92°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Pack rain gear on top: Orlando averages 51.5 in of annual precipitation — waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
- Hurricane season runs June through November — stock a basic emergency kit (water, flashlight, battery radio) during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
- Register to vote in Florida after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
How much do homes cost in Orlando compared to Houston?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $374,136 in Orlando vs $264,336 in Houston — a 41.5% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does the job market in Orlando compare to Houston?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,120 in the Orlando MSA vs $46,960 in the Houston MSA, on total employment of 1,366,800 and 3,179,460 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
When is the best time to move from Houston to Orlando?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 979 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Is Orlando more expensive than Houston?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Orlando is 2.8% higher than Houston (101.418 vs 98.629, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does household income compare in Houston vs Orlando?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $69,268 in Orlando vs $62,894 in Houston — a 10.1% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
What is the climate difference between Houston and Orlando?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 73.0°F in Orlando vs 70.6°F in Houston (2.4°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 51.5 in vs 54.1 in.
How far is Orlando, FL from Houston, TX?
The driving distance is 979 mi and the route typically takes 17h 59m via I 10 and I 75. The trip crosses 5 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Houston.
City profiles: Houston, TX · Orlando, FL.