Orlando Expat City Guide

Moving to Orlando can truly be a great thing. Be it that you’ve found a new job, or that you are simply up for an adventure, Orlando has a lot to offer. But, in order to make the most of it, you need to know a thing or two about relocating to and living in Orlando. So, to help you out, we’ve come up with an Orlando expat city guide. With luck, it should give you the necessary information about starting your life here and make your transition that much easier.

Before moving to Orlando

As it is with most cities, moving to Orlando is not something that you should do on a whim. Yes, this beautiful city has a lot to offer. But, in order to actually enjoy its offerings, you need to deal with a bit of preparation and research. So, before we go over the things to do in Orlando and how much money you’ll need to live here, let’s take a look at the necessary preparations.

How to prepare

No matter where you are moving from, there is no way that you can properly relocate to Orlando without prior preparation. In some instances, preparing for a move can take months. So, the advice that we have for you is to start preparing the moment you decide to move (ideally, at least three months before the moving date). The sooner you start researching your relocation and all that it will entail, the better equipped you will be to tackle it. Not to mention all the rookie mistakes that you will avoid along the way.

There is more to moving to Orlando than simply packing moving boxes.

Finding the right company

Along with research, you should also look into finding the right moving company. If you are coming from far away, there are essentially two options you can go for. You can either choose to hire an Orlando moving company to help you or hire one closer to you. An Orlando mover will know how to avoid heavy traffic and move you with surprising efficiency. But, this option is only viable if you live in the U.S. If you live abroad, and if moving to Orlando means that you will live far away from your home country, hiring movers from that country is the way to go.

Being an Orlando expat

So, once you move to Orlando, should you throw your worries to the wind and start exploring? Well, not quite. In order to have a great time as an expat in Orlando, you need to know a bit about it. Your first couple of days should be all about unpacking and settling it. You can even organize a virtual housewarming party to stay connected with your friends back home. Once you feel comfortable enough, you can start exploring Orlando and seeing what this beautiful city has to offer.

Learning about Orlando

The more time you spend in Orlando, the more of it will you discover. But, for starters, know that you are not alone as an expat. The city of Orlando has over 15% foreign-born residents. When it comes to culture, Orlando is a bit of a melting pot. Here you will find communities ranging from the Caribbean to West Indian.

As an Orlando expat, you will soon learn that there are numerous cultures to explore in this beautiful city.

But, the most notable is the Puerto Rican community. The simple fact that Orlando has the largest number of Puerto Ricans in Florida should give you an idea of how expansive and present this culture is. While it is easy to get lost in Orlando’s beauty (after all, it is called the City Beautiful), we strongly suggest that you learn more about its various communities. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to situate yourself and find a neighborhood that suits your lifestyle.

Cost of living in Orlando

The best way to consider the cost of living in Orlando is that it is a bit more expensive than the U.S. average. After all, seeing that it is one of Florida’s largest cities, this should be expected. Here are some average numbers to give you a better idea of what to expect:

• 1 Bedroom apartment monthly rent – $1,383.
• 3 Bedroom apartment monthly rent – $2,181.
• A single person’s living without rent – $889.
• Yearly cost for private primary school – $8,377.
• Monthly utilities – $217.

Of course, some of these can vary based on your living arrangement and your everyday spending habits. But, these numbers should at least give you an idea of what to expect life in Orlando to cost.

Job opportunities

Speaking of money, let’s go over the job opportunities in Orlando. The biggest industry in Orlando is tech, with over $13 billion in the metropolitan areas. Orlando is widely recognized as an innovation center where talented people lean towards digital media, IT, software design, agriculture technology, aviation, and aerospace. With such a high trend in the industry, it shouldn’t come as much surprise that the average net salary in Orlando is $3,386, after-tax. Therefore, if you are a young professional, moving to Orlando can be just the right move.

Finding a job before moving to Orlando is usually a good idea.

The final thing to keep in mind about living in Orlando

One final thing to keep in mind as an Orlando expat is to take your time. The city is in constant development, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it kept developing for the years to come. So, instead of trying to see and experience it all, give yourself time. For most expats, moving to Orlando can be stressful, especially if they’ve never lived in a large city before. So, try to pay attention to your health and overall well-being in the process. Also, try to keep in touch with your old friends. If you decide to move back to your hometown, you’ll be glad that you’ve kept your bond.

Photos used

https://www.pexels.com/photo/family-unpacking-after-moving-4569340/

https://pixabay.com/photos/buildings-city-cityscape-florida-216927/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-tank-top-holding-white-ceramic-cup-3779760/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-wearing-black-eyeglasses-1239291/