City comparison
Austin, TX vs Cape Coral, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cape Coral, FL are 4.4% higher than in Austin, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Austin, TX would need about $104,400 in Cape Coral, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,638 in Cape Coral, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Cape Coral, FL ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by +4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.8% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Cape Coral, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 102.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,367 in Cape Coral | $95,815 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,638/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $46,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Cape Coral |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 125.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 102.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Cape Coral, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
56 Fair offer
Cape Coral, FL → Austin, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Cape Coral, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Cape Coral, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Cape Coral, FL | Real change, Austin → Cape Coral |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | −6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | −6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | −6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | −6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | −6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Cape Coral, FL | Cape Coral pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $60,470 | $57,940 (−5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $126,940 | $121,628 (−9.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $79,420 | $76,097 (−8.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $82,860 | $79,393 (−18.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.