City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 6.4% higher than in Cape Coral, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Cape Coral, FL would need about $106,400 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,638 in Cape Coral, FL. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 25% in Cape Coral, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Cape Coral, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Cape Coral, FL to Washington, DC ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +6.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.6% in real buying power.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,385 in Washington | $93,998 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
38 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Cape Coral, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
89 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Cape Coral, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Washington, DC | Real change, Cape Coral → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $131,500 | $148,950 | $140,010 (+6.5%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $154,930 | $145,631 (+14.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $102,140 | $96,010 (+20.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $102,710 | $96,546 (+16.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.