City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Greensboro, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cape Coral, FL are 10.2% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $110,200 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 $1,213 in Greensboro, NC. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Cape Coral, FL and 19% in Greensboro, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Greensboro, NC 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 Greensboro, NC changes real buying power by +10.2%, purely from prices.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Greensboro, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,734 in Greensboro | $110,213 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,213/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $46,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Greensboro-High Point, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Greensboro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 74.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 89.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
100 Strong offer
Greensboro, NC → Cape Coral, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
40 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 Greensboro, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Greensboro, NC | Real change, Cape Coral → Greensboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +10.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +10.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +10.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +10.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +10.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Greensboro, NC | Greensboro pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $59,730 | $65,830 (+8.9%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $125,190 | $137,975 (+8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $80,170 | $88,358 (+11.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $82,860 | $91,322 (+10.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.