City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cape Coral, FL are 6.9% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $106,900 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 $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Cape Coral, FL and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Syracuse, NY 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 Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by +6.9%, purely from prices.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,545 in Syracuse | $106,901 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
90 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Cape Coral, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
49 Fair 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 Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Cape Coral → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +6.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +6.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +6.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $78,560 | $83,981 (+38.9%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $129,100 | $138,009 (+8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $82,230 | $87,905 (+10.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $86,960 | $92,961 (+12.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.