CostIndexUSA

Cape Coral, FL vs Houston, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Cape Coral
102.3
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Houston is slightly cheaper than Cape Coral — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cape Coral, you would need $77,100 in Houston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing16.5%
Cape Coral
125.1
Houston
104.5
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
Cape Coral
96.2
Houston
100.6
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Cape Coral
103.8
Houston
100.4
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Cape Coral
93.9
Houston
90.8
Utilities+9.7%
Cape Coral
86.9
Houston
95.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cape Coral to see what you'd need to earn in Houston to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Houston, TX
$77,100
$2,900 less needed in Houston

Formula: salary × (98.6 ÷ 102.3) = salary × 0.9638. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cape Coral, FL

Median Home Price
$337,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
125.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Cape Coral has 16.5% lower housing costs compared to Houston.

Income & Job Market

Cape Coral, FL

Median Household Income
$71,500
Per Capita Income
$40,800
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
194,016
Top Industries
HealthcareRetailConstructionTourismFinance

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cape Coral, FL
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.