City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Columbia, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cape Coral, FL are 9.3% higher than in Columbia, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbia, SC would need about $109,300 in Cape Coral, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,638 a month in Cape Coral, FL versus $1,164 in Columbia, SC. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Cape Coral, FL and 19% in Columbia, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Columbia, SC than in Cape Coral, FL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Columbia, SC changes real buying power by +9.3%, purely from prices.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 93.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,512 in Columbia | $109,275 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,164/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $46,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Columbia, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 79.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 93.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Columbia, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
98 Strong offer
Columbia, SC → Cape Coral, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
42 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Columbia, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Columbia, SC | Real change, Cape Coral → Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +9.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +9.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +9.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +9.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +9.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Columbia, SC | Columbia pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $60,050 | $65,620 (+8.5%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $123,380 | $134,823 (+6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $69,210 | $75,629 (−4.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $81,920 | $89,518 (+8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.