City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 1.3% higher than in Cape Coral, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Cape Coral, FL would need about $101,300 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,638 a month in Cape Coral, FL and $1,682 in Olympia, WA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.4% moving from Cape Coral, FL to Olympia, WA ($106,437 → $119,630), while prices change by +1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.0% in real buying power.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,291 in Olympia | $98,726 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Olympia, WA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
64 Fair offer
Olympia, WA → Cape Coral, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cape Coral, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Olympia, WA | Real change, Cape Coral → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,373 | +11.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,935 | +11.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,602 | +11.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $119,630 | +11.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,367 | +11.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $104,650 | $103,317 (+70.9%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $124,060 | $122,479 (−3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $94,470 | $93,266 (+17.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $125,020 | $123,427 (+49.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.