CostIndexUSA

Cape Coral, FL vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Cape Coral
102.3
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is moderately cheaper than Cape Coral — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cape Coral, you would need $75,400 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.5%
Cape Coral
125.1
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cape Coral
96.2
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Cape Coral
103.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Cape Coral
93.9
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities+1.2%
Cape Coral
86.9
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 102.3) = salary × 0.9423. 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×

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Cape Coral has 25.5% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

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

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

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)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.