City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Providence, RI
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 Providence, RI (101.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Cape Coral, FL goes as far as $99,400 in Providence, RI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,638 a month in Cape Coral, FL versus $1,402 in Providence, RI. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Cape Coral, FL and 22% in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Providence, RI than in Cape Coral, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Cape Coral, FL to Providence, RI ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by −0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.9% in real buying power.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,437 in Providence | $100,566 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Providence, RI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
71 Strong offer
Providence, RI → Cape Coral, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Cape Coral, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Providence, RI | Real change, Cape Coral → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +13.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +13.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +13.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +13.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +13.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $86,720 | $87,211 (+44.2%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $130,690 | $131,430 (+3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $95,020 | $95,558 (+20.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $99,880 | $100,445 (+21.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.