CostIndexUSA

Cape Coral, FL vs Chico, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Cape Coral
102.3
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Chico
101.2
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Chico is slightly cheaper than Cape Coral — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cape Coral, you would need $79,100 in Chico. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing26.5%
Cape Coral
125.1
Chico
91.9
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Cape Coral
96.2
Chico
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Cape Coral
103.8
Chico
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Cape Coral
93.9
Chico
95.3
Utilities+82.7%
Cape Coral
86.9
Chico
158.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Chico, CA
$79,100
$900 less needed in Chico

Formula: salary × (101.2 ÷ 102.3) = salary × 0.9892. 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×

Chico, CA

Median Home Price
$390,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
91.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.6×

Cape Coral has 26.5% lower housing costs compared to Chico.

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

Chico, CA

Median Household Income
$63,200
Per Capita Income
$36,000
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
101,475
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturingRetail

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)

Chico, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.