CostIndexUSA

Cape Coral, FL vs Santa Cruz, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Cape Coral
102.3
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
CA
Santa Cruz
109.9
overall index
$3,425/mo rent

Cape Coral is moderately cheaper than Santa Cruz — 7.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cape Coral, you would need $85,900 in Santa Cruz. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+31.3%
Cape Coral
125.1
Santa Cruz
164.3
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Cape Coral
96.2
Santa Cruz
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Cape Coral
103.8
Santa Cruz
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Cape Coral
93.9
Santa Cruz
95.3
Utilities+75.7%
Cape Coral
86.9
Santa Cruz
152.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Cruz, CA
$85,900
$5,900 more needed in Santa Cruz

Formula: salary × (109.9 ÷ 102.3) = salary × 1.0743. 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×

Santa Cruz, CA

Median Home Price
$1,091,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,425
Housing Index
164.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.5×

Santa Cruz has 31.3% higher housing costs compared to Cape Coral.

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

Santa Cruz, CA

Median Household Income
$105,600
Per Capita Income
$60,200
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
64,725
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyTourismAgricultureHealthcare

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)

Santa Cruz, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% 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.