City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Cape Coral, FL (102.3) and Phoenix, AZ (103.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Cape Coral, FL goes as far as $100,900 in Phoenix, AZ.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,638 a month in Cape Coral, FL and $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,291 a year higher in Phoenix, AZ than in Cape Coral, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Cape Coral, FL to Phoenix, AZ ($106,437 → $111,338), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.6% in real buying power.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,945 in Phoenix | $99,064 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Phoenix, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$2,291/yr.
66 Fair offer
Phoenix, AZ → Cape Coral, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,291/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cape Coral, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Cape Coral → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,564 | +3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,117 | +3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,629 | +3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,338 | +3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,568 | +3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $59,180 | $58,626 (−3.0%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $131,750 | $130,517 (+2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $80,820 | $80,064 (+0.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $100,830 | $99,886 (+20.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.