Orlando, FL
No state income tax, year-round warmth, and a lot of newer construction.
Orlando is far more than theme parks: it's a fast-growing Central Florida metro with tourism, tech, aerospace and healthcare jobs. For anyone moving from LA to Orlando, the two big draws are Florida's tax structure and the price of housing. In the most recent Redfin data (May 2026) the typical Orlando home sold for about $415K, versus about $904K for the typical LA County zip code.
The money picture
| Typical LA County zip | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $904K | $415K |
| Median price per sq ft | $588 | $254 |
| Median days on market | n/a | 46 |
| State income tax on wages | Progressive, top rate 13.3% | None (Florida has no personal income tax) |
Market figures: Redfin Data Center. Orlando: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026. Medians are a rough guide and hide a wide range of homes. Tax rates as published by each state for tax year 2026; rates change, so verify with the state's revenue department.
Orlando homes recently sold for about $254 per square foot, compared with about $588 in the typical LA zip. The typical detached house sold for about $535K, while the typical condo sold for about $163K. The median home took 46 days to sell and closed at about 97.0% of list price (Redfin, May 2026), so buyers have generally had time to compare options.
On taxes, Florida has no personal income tax. Florida offers a homestead exemption on a primary residence, and its "Save Our Homes" rule limits annual increases in the assessed value of a homesteaded home. Homeowners and flood insurance are a major part of the cost of owning in Florida, so get quotes early. The Florida Department of Revenue has the official details, and our California to Florida guide covers the state more broadly.
A household with $200,000 of taxable income would have no Florida state income tax on it, since Florida has no personal income tax. The full picture still includes property taxes and insurance, a part-year California return for the year of the move, and California tax on California-source income such as the gain on an LA home sale. This is a simplified illustration; a CPA can model the specifics.
For LA owners, Orlando often means turning a mortgage on an expensive home into a smaller one, or no mortgage at all, on a newer and larger one. The catch is the full monthly cost: insurance, property taxes after any homestead exemption, and community or association fees. Line those up early and compare homes on total cost. On the LA side, our guide to selling your LA home and moving out of state covers timing, costs and paperwork for the sale.
What people tend to weigh
- Climate. Hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and mild winters. Inland, but hurricane season from June through November is still part of planning.
- Housing stock. A large share of newer construction and planned communities, plus older homes around the city's many lakes and a wide range of condos.
- Travel back to LA. Orlando International has nonstop flights to LAX and service to most major U.S. cities.
- Insurance and HOAs. Insurance costs and association fees in planned communities can add meaningfully to the monthly number, so compare total cost, not just price.
Prefer the coast? Compare with our Tampa guide.
Common questions
How much does a home cost in Orlando compared with Los Angeles?
The typical Orlando home sold for about $415K ($254 per square foot) in Redfin's May 2026 data, versus about $904K ($588 per square foot) for a typical LA County zip code. Medians hide a wide range of homes.
Does Florida have a state income tax?
None (Florida has no personal income tax). California's top marginal rate is 13.3%. Tax rules change, so confirm current rates with the state's revenue department and a CPA.
How fast are homes selling in Orlando?
Homes in Orlando had a median of 46 days on market and sold for about 97.0% of list price on average (Redfin, May 2026).
What could $1 million from an LA sale buy in Orlando?
As a rough illustration, $1 million at Orlando's median of $254 per square foot works out to about 3,940 square feet, compared with about 1,700 at the LA median. Use the calculator on this page for your own numbers.
The move starts with the sale.
Before you land anywhere, your LA home has to sell, and how it sells sets your budget for everything after. The seller's playbook covers timing, California withholding at closing, transfer taxes and the questions to bring your CPA.