Cape Coral, FL vs Fort Lauderdale, FL

Cape Coral is moderately more affordable than Fort Lauderdale, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. Cape Coral scores 117 compared to 130 for Fort Lauderdale, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Lauderdale 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 $1,776/month in Fort Lauderdale — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cape Coral is more affordable at $339,200 median vs $455,600.

Median household income in Cape Coral is $76,062 compared to $79,935 in Fort Lauderdale (-4.8%). Fort Lauderdale does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Coral spend roughly 27.6% of their income on rent, more than the 26.7% in Fort Lauderdale.