City Comparison

Alexandria vs Fort Myers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Fort Myers

Florida
104
Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$52,200
Median Income

The Verdict

39.4%

Living in Fort Myers costs 39.4% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $53,793 in Fort Myers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
112
Fort Myers
Groceries
113
Alexandria
104
Fort Myers
Utilities
97
Alexandria
101
Fort Myers
Transportation
107
Alexandria
103
Fort Myers
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
108
Fort Myers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $53,793 in Fort Myers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Myers equals $104,567 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Fort Myers

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Fort Myers's 112, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $340,000. The $250,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,248 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,575/mo in Fort Myers, a monthly difference of $550.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 104 in Fort Myers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $494/month in Fort Myers. Fort Myers offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 101 in Fort Myers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $404 in Fort Myers. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 108 in Fort Myers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $52,200 in Fort Myers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $50,192 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,218/month in Fort Myers. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 89 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Myers is 39.4% more affordable overall with an index of 104 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,793 in Fort Myers, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Fort Myers's is 112 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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