Cost of living in Cape Coral, FL
875,607 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 2.3% above the US average, with housing at 125.1 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,048 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Cape Coral, FL
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2022 childcare prices for Lee County, FL in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $76,107 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,342 |
| Taxes | $801 | $1,255 | $516 |
| Take-home pay | $4,199 | $7,912 | $5,826 |
| Housing | $1,564 | $1,835 | $1,835 |
| Childcare | $0 | $848 | $1,377 |
| Food | $424 | $951 | $1,234 |
| Transportation | $159 | $318 | $318 |
| Sales tax | $29 | $29 | $29 |
| Other goods & services | $976 | $976 | $976 |
| Left over | $1,048 | $2,956 | $57 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($76,107). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Cape Coral, FL vs Florida and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Florida statewide (light).
Within Florida, Cape Coral, FL ranks 4th of 22 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 103.4. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,555 | $62,200 | 24.5% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,564 | $62,560 | 24.7% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,835 | $73,400 | 28.9% |
| 3-bedroom | $2,373 | $94,920 | 37.4% |
| 4-bedroom | $2,615 | $104,600 | 41.2% |
FY2027 FMRs for Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,712 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Lee County, FL
| Age band | Center, weekly (2022) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2022) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $200 | $12,713 | $150 | $9,535 |
| Toddler (2) | $160 | $10,170 | $130 | $8,263 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $150 | $9,535 | $125 | $7,946 |
| School-age (5–12) | $110 | $6,992 | $120 | $7,628 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 county medians for full-time care in Lee County, FL (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2224, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2022 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Cape Coral
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Florida income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,530 | $5,133 | $7,771 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 15.3% | 17.9% | 22.3% |
No mandatory local income tax for residents of Cape Coral in our data. State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Cape Coral, FL
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral, FL | — | 102.3 | $1,835 | $1,048 |
| Punta Gorda, FL · compare | 18 mi | 100.5 | $1,575 | $1,408 (+$360) |
| North Port, FL · compare | 31 mi | 102.4 | $2,188 | $736 (−$312) |
| Naples, FL · compare | 36 mi | 103.2 | $2,036 | $742 (−$306) |
| Sebring, FL · compare | 66 mi | 92.5 | $1,259 | $1,590 (+$542) |
| Tampa, FL · compare | 96 mi | 100.9 | $1,917 | $978 (−$70) |
| Lakeland, FL · compare | 98 mi | 97.1 | $1,608 | $1,274 (+$226) |
Common moves to and from Cape Coral, FL
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Miami, FL3,957
Frequently asked questions
Is Cape Coral, FL expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Cape Coral, FL metro at 102.3 (US = 100) in 2024 — 2.3% above the national average and the 55th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 125.1, goods 96.2.
What salary do you need to live in Cape Coral, FL?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,199 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,048 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Cape Coral, FL?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,564 for a 1-bedroom and $1,835 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,712.
Does Cape Coral have a local income tax?+
No mandatory local income tax applies to residents of Cape Coral in our 2026 data. Florida state income tax does not apply to wages.