As a rough benchmark, Apartment List's November 2026 report puts Orlando's median rent at $1,295 for a one-bedroom and $1,609 for a two-bedroom, down 0.5% over the year. It depends on size, location and finish: an ADU is a small, often private unit, so a studio may rent below those medians while a well-located cottage can do better.
What do Orlando rents look like right now?
- One bedroom: $1,295 median.
- Two bedrooms: $1,609 median.
- Trend: down 0.5% year over year.
These are citywide medians from Apartment List's rent report for November 2026, mostly for apartments. We found no published data set of ADU rents for Orlando.
What sets an ADU's rent?
- Size and layout. Most Orlando lots cap ADUs at 500 sq ft, which means a studio or a compact one-bedroom.
- Privacy. A detached unit with its own entry and outdoor space usually rents better than a room-like suite.
- Location. Distance to downtown, hospitals, UCF and major employers.
- Utilities. Orlando requires separate meters, so tenants can pay their own power and water.
- Laundry, parking and storage. Small things that tenants weigh heavily in a small unit.
What limits how I can rent?
- Long-term leases are allowed. The city permits standard residential leases of an ADU.
- Short stays are restricted. Home sharing under 30 days requires a present host. See the Airbnb guide.
- The incentive caps rent for a year. If you use the city's ADU incentive, you rent to a tenant at or below 120% of area median income for 12 of the first 24 months.
- HOA covenants. Some associations restrict leasing.
How do I estimate payback?
It depends on your build cost and how you finance it. Take a realistic monthly rent for the unit, subtract taxes, insurance, maintenance and vacancy, and compare the result to the total cost from a written, itemized quote. Read the cost guide for the cost side.
Does an ADU raise my property taxes?
Usually. New construction adds assessed value. If your home has a Florida homestead exemption, renting part of the property can affect how the exemption applies to that portion. Ask the Orange County Property Appraiser before you rent.
Sources, checked October 2026:
- Apartment List, Orlando rent report (November 2026).
- City of Orlando, ADU page and ADU Incentive Program page.
- City of Orlando, Home Sharing page.