Moving from Memphis to Orlando?
Memphis to Orlando — both 0% tax states (TN/FL), 57% housing premium for theme park economy + tourism.
- 970 mi Distance
- 14 hr Drive time
- -57% lower Home prices
- 233 Sun days/year
Memphis-to-Orlando is the rare 0%-tax-to-0%-tax move. Both TN and FL have no state income tax. Trade: 57% housing premium and 27% higher COL for Orlando's theme park economy (Disney/Universal employ 100K+), Lockheed Martin Orlando, year-round mild climate, and beach access (Cocoa 1 hour east). Memphis's distinctive blues/rock/soul music heritage stays sacred but doesn't transfer to Orlando.
Why people move from Memphis to Orlando.
- Same 0% income tax — TN/FL both have no state income tax
- Disney World + Universal Orlando employment (100K+ direct)
- Lockheed Martin Orlando + military simulation careers
- Year-round mild climate (Orlando Jan 50-72°F)
- Cocoa Beach 1 hour east + Clearwater 2 hours west
- AdventHealth, Orlando Health (major healthcare employers)
- Less brutal crime than Memphis (Orlando suburbs particularly safe)
- Property tax similar (both states ~0.9% effective)
The money side of TN → FL.
Memphis
- Median home$235,000
- Income tax0% (TN)
- Cost index78
Orlando
- Median home$370,000
- Income tax0% (FL)
- Cost index99
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Orlando, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Lake Eola Park — Downtown lake, swan boats, farmers market Sundays
- Harry P. Leu Gardens — 50-acre botanical garden in Orlando
- Wekiwa Springs State Park — Crystal-clear spring; tubing, kayaking
Culture & Arts
- Orlando Museum of Art — Notable American art collection
Family-Friendly
- Walt Disney World — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom
- Universal Orlando Resort — Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure + Volcano Bay
- SeaWorld Orlando — Marine park with rides; Discovery Cove sister park
- Kennedy Space Center (1 hr east) — Active rocket launch site; Atlantis exhibit
- ICON Park — International Drive entertainment complex; Ferris wheel
- Gatorland — 1949 'Alligator Capital of the World'; zip line over alligators
Orlando's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Orlando resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Capa Spanish Lake Buena Vista (Four Seasons)
Michelin-starred Spanish from Andrew Zimmerman
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Soseki Modern Omakase Japanese Winter Park
Counter-style omakase
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Kadence Sushi tasting Audubon Park
9-seat omakase counter
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Sette Italian Lake Nona
Modern Italian; chef Eric Schmidt
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Black Rooster Taqueria Mexican Mills 50 District
Cult-favorite tacos
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The Boheme American Downtown (Grand Bohemian)
Hotel restaurant with chef-driven menu
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Chau's Cafe Vietnamese Mills 50
Best banh mi in town
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Ravenous Pig Gastropub Winter Park
Farm-to-table; brewery
Best Orlando neighborhoods for Memphis transplants.
Mapped to the Memphis neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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Winter Park
If Germantown affluent was your speed — walkable historic, top schools, charming, $500K-$2M
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Lake Eola Heights / Thornton Park
If Downtown South Main was your vibe — walkable downtown, lofts, restaurants
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College Park
If Cooper-Young was your goal — walkable, family, charming
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Mills 50 / Audubon Park
If East Memphis hip was your speed — hip walkable, art, restaurants, breweries
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Lake Nona (suburb)
If Collierville was your suburban model — newest master-planned, top schools, walkable
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Baldwin Park (master-planned)
If Germantown master-planned was your goal — walkable master-planned, top schools, family
What daily life feels like in Orlando.
Climate
Humid subtropical. Hot, humid summers (72-93°F, May-Oct) with daily afternoon thunderstorms. Mild winters (50-72°F). Hurricane season June-November (inland is safer than coast). 233 sun days/year.
- Summer72-92°F
- Winter50-72°F
- Sun days/yr233
- Rainfall51 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score41/100
- Transit Score33/100
- Bike Score55/100
Orlando is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Wekiwa Springs State Park — crystal spring, tubing, swimming
- Lake Eola — downtown park with swan boats
- Kayaking on Winter Park's Chain of Lakes
- St. Cloud Lake — boating, fishing
- Atlantic beaches (1 hr east) — Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna
- Gulf beaches (90 min west) — Clearwater, St. Pete
What changes about your daily life.
- Same 0% income tax — no change
- Housing 57% higher — $235K Memphis SFH becomes $370K Orlando SFH
- Cost of living 27% higher
- Climate flips humid subtropical to humid-tropical (Orlando)
- Hurricane risk arrives (Orlando inland but exposed)
- Property insurance jumps modestly (FL insurance crisis)
- Music scene shrinks dramatically — Memphis is blues/rock/soul birthplace; Orlando has theme park music + smaller local scene
- Memphis BBQ (dry-rub ribs) shrinks (Orlando has decent BBQ but smaller)
- FedEx/AutoZone/St. Jude career arc disappears (Orlando is theme parks/Lockheed/healthcare)
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 970 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$4,200-$7,500
- Container/PODS$3,000-$5,200
- DIY (26-ft truck)$2,000-$3,800
- Best monthsOct-Apr (avoid hurricane season + Southern summer)
- Lead time6-8 weeks ahead
USDOT-registered.
Moving from Memphis to Orlando: FAQ.
Why move if same 0% tax?
Career pivot + lifestyle. Memphis FedEx/AutoZone/St. Jude is unique. Orlando theme park economy + Lockheed Martin offer different career paths. Plus Orlando's lower crime rate, better schools (Orange County mixed; Lake Nona, Winter Park, Baldwin Park excellent), and beach access. Most Memphis-to-Orlando moves are family-driven quality-of-life upgrades.
Music industry — Orlando equivalent?
Smaller. Memphis is blues/rock/soul birthplace heritage (Sun Studio, Stax Records, Beale Street). Orlando has theme park music (Disney, Universal soundtracks) but no comparable music industry scale. Most music professionals stay Memphis or move to Nashville/LA/NYC.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Memphis-to-Orlando move.
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