About Orlando, FL

The city of Orlando was incorporated in 1875, but it wasn’t much more than a citrus trading post until a visit from a very famous man. When Walt Disney announced to the world that he was building not one theme park, but a whole host of them in the land that is today just south of Orlando, it put this city squarely on the map and today, the Orlando metro area is the third largest in Florida with a population of just over 2 million people. Orlando might just be one of the best combinations of small town and big city all in one in the nation. Many aspects of Orlando are that of a city much smaller. The people are friendly, the cost of living is low and the climate is ideal. But when you creep towards the touristy areas, Orlando explodes into a megalopolis of family fun and extravagance. It is a wonderful place to live and an even better place to play.

While the city of Orlando is clearly far more than a collection of theme parks, no discussion about what to do here is complete without mentioning them. Disney World is located in Lake Buena Vista, just south of downtown Orlando. The Universal and Sea World parks are actually in Orlando in the south western part of town. Orlando does have other things to do, such as an excellent series of parks, major and minor league sports and one of the best universities in the nation that provides a full calendar of sports, but the theme parks dominate those other attractions. Even if you have little or no desire to visit them, you’ll find yourself being called upon to give tours by family members who live in less tropical climates. Living in Orlando means living with Mickey, for good and for bad.

For 8 months out of the year, the best part of living in Orlando is the climate. Warm, sometimes even hot, winter days give way to cool nights that require long pants and sleeves. Even early summer and late fall can be quite pleasant, and the giggles one gets when news reports of snow storms in Buffalo and Minnesota come on the news are a guilty pleasure. But the summer months here can be absolutely brutal. The heat and the humidity can make May, June, July and August a trial that you dread, but as with so many other places, the good comes with the bad.

If you’re looking for a studio Orlando apartment, you can expect to pay $600-$750 per month. A one bedroom Orlando apartment will generally run you $750-$900 per month, while a larger two bedroom Orlando apartment will go for $1000-$1300. If you need a super sized three bedroom Orlando apartment, you can expect to pay $1400 or more each month.