Cape Coral, FL vs Port St. Lucie, FL

Cape Coral, FL and Port St. Lucie, FL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Cape Coral scores 117 while Port St. Lucie scores 117 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape Coral is $1,751/month compared to $1,781/month in Port St. Lucie — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cape Coral has cheaper rent, Port St. Lucie actually has lower median home values ($327,700 vs $339,200).

Median household income in Cape Coral is $76,062 compared to $78,137 in Port St. Lucie (-2.7%). Port St. Lucie offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Coral spend roughly 27.6% of their income on rent, more than the 27.4% in Port St. Lucie.