Moving from Georgia to Orlando: Costs, Areas and Homes
Georgia and Florida are closer on cost than most relocation guides admit. The biggest gap is income tax: Georgia taxes income at a flat 4.99% for 2026, Florida at zero. On property tax, Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Forsyth medians run above Central Florida's, Cobb's sits inside our range, and Georgia's statewide median is lower than any of the four counties around Orlando.
This page puts the real numbers side by side, county by county, so you can see whether the move saves you money or just changes the scenery.
Get a free Georgia to Orlando relocation plan
Tell Brenden when you are moving and roughly what you want to spend. He will send back the two or three areas that fit, what that budget buys in each, and how to shop from Georgia. No cost, no obligation.
Rather talk it through? Call 407-616-9019.
Georgia vs Central Florida, county by county
Same survey, same year, same definitions, so the comparison is fair. These are what homeowners report, not asking prices.
| Area | Median home value | Median yearly real estate tax | Median monthly owner cost (with mortgage) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | $503,000 | $4,310 | $2,520 | $101,417 |
| Gwinnett County | $424,400 | $3,910 | $2,237 | $89,712 |
| Cobb County | $454,400 | $3,077 | $2,264 | $102,356 |
| DeKalb County | $375,400 | $3,586 | $2,002 | $81,564 |
| Forsyth County | $642,700 | $4,384 | $2,713 | $151,031 |
| Chatham County (Savannah) | $353,500 | $2,865 | $1,842 | $75,063 |
| Georgia | $343,300 | $2,554 | $1,909 | $79,991 |
| Orange County, FL | $432,500 | $3,227 | $2,216 | $82,152 |
| Seminole County, FL | $424,600 | $2,745 | $2,069 | $85,403 |
| Lake County, FL | $360,100 | $2,860 | $2,032 | $76,617 |
| Volusia County, FL | $353,500 | $2,696 | $1,891 | $71,508 |
| United States | $360,600 | $3,211 | $2,035 | $81,604 |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, tables B25077 (median value of owner-occupied homes), B25103 (median real estate taxes paid), B25088 (median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage) and B19013 (median household income), pulled 2026-09-16 from api.census.gov.
What the income tax difference looks like
Georgia taxes income at a flat rate: 5.19% for 2025, and 4.99% for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. Take a married couple filing jointly with $150,000 of Georgia taxable income:
Georgia income tax, 2026 rate: 4.99% x $150,000 = $7,485 (at the 2025 rate: $7,785)
Florida state income tax on the same income: $0
If you are retired, the gap can be much smaller. Georgia lets each spouse exclude up to $35,000 of retirement income at ages 62 to 64 and up to $65,000 at 65 or older, for tax year 2025. A retired couple living mostly on that income may owe Georgia little or nothing already, so moving to Florida would not cut their income tax by much.
Homestead: Georgia's statewide homestead exemption is $2,000 off assessed value, and its 2024 floating homestead exemption limits assessment increases to inflation where local governments did not opt out. Florida's homestead exemption removes up to $25,000 plus a second exemption of up to $26,411 for 2026 on non-school taxes, and Save Our Homes caps yearly assessment increases at 3% or CPI, whichever is lower.
Sources: Georgia DOR, 2025 IT-511 booklet; Georgia DOR, important tax updates (HB 463); Georgia DOR, retirement income exclusion; Georgia DOR, homestead exemptions; Florida DOR, additional homestead exemption adjustment; Florida Constitution, Article VII. Illustration only, not a tax estimate.
What homes actually sold for last month
The Census figures above are what owners estimate their homes are worth. These are real closings in Stellar MLS for August 2026.
| County | Median sale price | Closed sales | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | $425,000 | 1,367 | 34 |
| Seminole | $420,000 | 495 | 28 |
| Lake | $375,000 | 686 | 44 |
| Volusia | $340,000 | 715 | 47 |
Source: Stellar MLS via Bridge RESO API, StandardStatus Closed, PropertyType Residential, closings in August 2026, pulled 2026-09-08. One month is a snapshot, not a trend.
Wondering what a specific budget buys? See what $475,000 buys in Clermont, Winter Garden and Minneola or what $575,000 buys in Lake Mary, Winter Springs and Oviedo.
Where to start looking
It comes down to three questions: will you commute into Orlando, do you want to be near the ocean, and how much house do you want for the money.
Commuting into Orlando
East toward the coast
Areas to compare on price
For scale: over the 12 months to August 2026, Clermont's median closed price was $470,000 against $673,392 in nearby Winter Garden (Stellar MLS closed sales).
Full county-by-county breakdown, homestead rules and a buy-before-you-move plan are in the Relocating to Orlando guide.
What Georgia movers ask
Is Orlando cheaper than Atlanta?
On taxes, usually yes for working households. Georgia taxes income at a flat 4.99% for 2026 and Florida has no state income tax, and the median yearly property tax paid was $3,910 to $4,384 in Fulton, Gwinnett and Forsyth counties against $2,696 to $3,227 in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Volusia counties (Census ACS 2024). Home values are close: $424,400 to $503,000 in Gwinnett, Cobb and Fulton against $353,500 to $432,500 here.
Are property taxes lower in Florida than in Georgia?
Not everywhere. Georgia's statewide median real estate tax paid was $2,554 in the 2024 American Community Survey, lower than any of the four Central Florida counties. Most metro Atlanta counties run higher, $3,586 to $4,384 in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Fulton and Forsyth, while Cobb's $3,077 falls inside the $2,696 to $3,227 Central Florida range. Keep in mind the Florida medians include long-time owners protected by Save Our Homes; a home you buy is reassessed at market value the January 1 after purchase, so a new buyer usually pays more than the median.
I am retiring. Will moving from Georgia to Florida cut my income tax?
Maybe not by much. Georgia lets each spouse exclude up to $35,000 of retirement income at ages 62 to 64 and up to $65,000 at 65 or older (tax year 2025). If most of your income is retirement income under those limits, you may already owe Georgia little, and the move would save mainly on other costs.
Does Florida have a state income tax?
No. Article VII, Section 5 of the Florida Constitution bars a state tax on the income of individuals. Georgia's flat rate is 5.19% for 2025 and 4.99% for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.
Price out your move before you list in Georgia
Send your details and get the areas that fit, with what your budget buys in each.
Call 407-616-9019The Homes In Orlando Team | Brenden Rendo, REALTOR® | NextHome Neighborhood Realty | 407-616-9019 | brenden@homesinorlando.forsale