Average Rent in Orlando, FL (2026): What Renters Need to Know

Orlando rents have been flat for a year. Here's what an apartment costs in 2026 by unit size and neighborhood, how Orlando compares with Kissimmee, Winter Park and the rest of Central Florida, and what to know before you sign a lease.

Overview of the Orlando Rental Market

After big jumps in 2021 and 2022, Orlando rents have leveled off. A large wave of new apartment buildings opened across Central Florida in 2024 and 2025, and landlords have had to compete harder for tenants. Prices haven't dropped much, but they've stopped climbing.

The numbers as of fall 2026:

Median rent (Apartment List, November 2026): $1,520 a month for all unit sizes, down 0.5% from a year earlier
Average rent (RentCafe, October 2026): $1,837 a month, up about 1% from $1,820 a year earlier
Orlando vs. the U.S.: Orlando's median is about 10% above the national median of $1,384 (Apartment List)

Why two different numbers? A median is the middle rent, so half of apartments cost less and half cost more. An average gets pulled up by expensive new buildings, and RentCafe only counts larger complexes, which tend to be newer. If you're looking at an older complex or a rental house, the median is closer to what you'll see. If you want a new building with a pool and a gym, plan around the average.

Average Rent in Orlando by Unit Type

Average rents and typical sizes in Orlando (RentCafe, October 2026):

Studio: $1,422/month, about 505 sq ft
1-Bedroom: $1,624/month, about 732 sq ft
2-Bedroom: $1,982/month, about 1,079 sq ft
3-Bedroom: $2,404/month, about 1,355 sq ft

Median rents are lower (Apartment List, November 2026):

1-Bedroom: $1,295/month
2-Bedroom: $1,609/month

For comparison, the national median is $1,215 for a 1-bedroom and $1,369 for a 2-bedroom. A typical Orlando 1-bedroom costs about $80 a month more than the U.S. norm, and a 2-bedroom about $240 more.

The most common price range in Orlando is $1,501 to $2,000 a month, which covers 44% of rentals (RentCafe).

Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Orlando

These areas had the lowest average rents in Orlando as of October 2026 (RentCafe):

Lake Sunset: $1,247/month, the lowest average in the city. West Orlando.
Rosemont: $1,347/month. Northwest Orlando, with many older apartment complexes.
Ventura: $1,374/month. East Orlando, near Semoran Boulevard and Orlando International Airport.
South Semoran: $1,501/month. Southeast Orlando, also close to the airport.
Conway: $1,515/month. Southeast Orlando, around Lake Conway.
Kirkman South: $1,545/month. Southwest Orlando along Kirkman Road, near Universal Orlando and many tourism jobs.

Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Orlando

The highest average rents as of October 2026 (RentCafe):

Baldwin Park: $2,514/month, the highest average in the city. A planned neighborhood on the former Naval Training Center site, with lakes, trails and a walkable village center.
Lake Formosa: $2,378/month. Just north of downtown, near the Ivanhoe Village and Mills 50 restaurant and shopping areas.
North Orange: $2,370/month. Along Orange Avenue north of downtown, close to Lake Ivanhoe.
Florida Center: $2,201/month. The International Drive and Sand Lake Road area, with many newer apartment communities.
Colonial Town Center: $2,148/month. East of downtown along Colonial Drive.
Downtown Orlando: $2,139/month. High-rise and mid-rise apartments near Lake Eola, the Kia Center and the SunRail commuter train.
Lake Nona: $2,031/month. Southeast Orlando, built around a medical and research district near the airport.

Most of the priciest areas are close to downtown or in newer planned communities. The more affordable areas tend to have older complexes and sit farther out along the major roads.

Orlando vs. Other Central Florida Cities

Average rents in nearby cities (RentCafe, October 2026):

Oviedo: $2,262/month
Lake Mary: $1,883/month
Kissimmee: $1,861/month
Orlando: $1,837/month
Winter Garden: $1,815/month
Sanford: $1,752/month
Altamonte Springs: $1,643/month
Winter Park: $1,643/month

Apartment List names Maitland as the most expensive city in the metro, with a median of $1,892, and Sanford as the most affordable at $1,374. The metro-wide median is $1,509, almost the same as Orlando itself.

How Orlando compares with other Florida cities (RentCafe averages):

Miami: $2,765/month
Tampa: $2,024/month
Orlando: $1,837/month
Jacksonville: $1,527/month

Orlando costs much less than South Florida and a bit less than Tampa.

What's Driving Orlando Rent Prices?

A wave of new buildings. Many apartments opened in 2024 and 2025, so landlords have had more empty units to fill. That's why rents have been flat and move-in specials are common.
Steady population and job growth. People keep moving to Central Florida for jobs in tourism, health care, construction and tech, which keeps demand strong.
Rising insurance and property costs. Florida landlords have faced higher property insurance bills, and some of that cost gets passed on to tenants.
Fewer new projects starting. Construction has slowed, so most forecasters expect rents to stay flat or rise slowly rather than drop.

Tips for Renting in Orlando

Ask about move-in specials. With so many new buildings trying to fill up, a free month or reduced fees is common. Ask even if nothing is advertised.
Plan for hurricane season. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Ask whether the building has impact windows or storm shutters and what the landlord does before a storm.
Check the flood zone. Look up the address on FEMA's flood map. Regular renters insurance doesn't cover flood damage to your belongings, so you may want separate flood coverage.
Get renters insurance. Many Orlando landlords require it, and it's usually inexpensive. It covers your belongings and your liability, not the building.
Budget for summer electric bills. Air conditioning runs most of the year. Ask what a typical August bill looks like, and check how old the AC unit is.
Factor in tolls and traffic. Many of the fastest roads around Orlando are toll roads, and I-4 traffic can be heavy. Test your commute at rush hour before you sign. SunRail runs north to south through downtown if you work near a station.
Watch for scams. Fake listings are common in tourist areas and fast-growing cities. Never send a deposit before seeing the unit in person or by live video. Read our guide to spotting fake rental listings.

What to Know About Florida's Rental Laws

Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes) sets the rules for Orlando rentals. Since July 1, 2023, state law overrides local landlord-tenant rules, so Orange County's former tenant bill of rights no longer applies.

Security deposit limit: Florida has no cap on how much a landlord can charge for a deposit.
Getting your deposit back: If the landlord isn't keeping any of it, they must return your deposit within 15 days after the lease ends. If they plan to keep some, they must send written notice within 30 days, and you have 15 days to object (§ 83.49).
Fee instead of a deposit: Some landlords offer a monthly fee in place of a security deposit. The fee isn't refundable, and you can still be charged for damage when you move out (§ 83.491).
Landlord entry: For repairs, a landlord must give at least 24 hours' notice and enter between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except in emergencies (§ 83.53).
Ending a month-to-month lease: Either side must give at least 30 days' notice before the end of a monthly period (§ 83.57).
Late fees: Florida doesn't set a dollar cap on late fees, but they need to be in your lease.
Late rent and eviction: If rent isn't paid, a landlord can give a 3-day notice, not counting weekends and court holidays, before filing for eviction (§ 83.56). Our guide to the eviction process in Florida walks through each step. It's written for Miami, but the same state law applies in Orlando.

What You'll Need to Rent in Orlando

A photo ID
Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, an offer letter or bank statements
Rental history and landlord references
Permission for a credit and background check
An application fee for each adult (amounts vary by landlord, so ask before you apply)

Most Orlando landlords want your monthly income to be about 2.5 to 3 times the rent. For a $1,624 one-bedroom, that's roughly $4,100 to $4,900 a month before taxes. If your credit is a concern, see how to find an apartment with bad credit.

Find Rentals in Orlando

Ready to start looking? Browse Orlando rentals on RentHound. One search covers Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Apartments.com and local landlords, and you can filter by price, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Disclaimer

Rent figures come from Apartment List's November 2026 Orlando rent report (medians) and RentCafe's Orlando rent data updated October 30, 2026 (averages). The two use different methods, so their numbers differ. Rents change quickly and vary by unit, building and neighborhood, so always check current prices with the landlord or listing. The legal information here is a general summary of the 2026 Florida Statutes, not legal advice. For your situation, read the current statutes or talk to a lawyer or a local legal aid office.