City comparison
Cape Coral, FL vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cape Coral, FL are 10.2% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $110,200 in Cape Coral, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,638 a month in Cape Coral, FL versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Cape Coral, FL and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Cape Coral, FL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Lexington, KY changes real buying power by +10.2%, purely from prices.
- Cape Coral, FL: price level 102.3 (pricier)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Cape Coral, FL | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.3 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,757 in Lexington | $110,184 in Cape Coral |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,638/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,780 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Cape Coral | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 102.3 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Cape Coral, FL → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
100 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Cape Coral, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
40 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Cape Coral, FL to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Cape Coral, FL | Lexington, KY | Real change, Cape Coral → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +10.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +10.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +10.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +10.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +10.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Cape Coral, FL | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Cape Coral dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $61,460 | $67,719 (+12.0%) |
| Software Developers | $126,940 | $123,510 | $136,089 (+7.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,420 | $77,780 | $85,701 (+7.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $79,040 | $87,090 (+5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.