Cape Coral, FL vs Clearwater, FL

Clearwater is moderately more affordable than Cape Coral, with a 7.1% lower cost of living index. Cape Coral scores 117 compared to 109 for Clearwater, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Cape Coral can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape Coral is $1,751/month compared to $1,539/month in Clearwater — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Clearwater is more affordable at $326,100 median vs $339,200.

Median household income in Cape Coral is $76,062 compared to $64,440 in Clearwater (+18%). While Cape Coral is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Coral spend roughly 27.6% of their income on rent, less than the 28.7% in Clearwater.