City Comparison

Bellevue vs Fort Myers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bellevue

Washington
158
Very Expensive
$1.3M
Median Home
$2,525/mo
Median Rent
$169,200
Median Income

Fort Myers

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

The Verdict

51.9%

Living in Fort Myers costs 51.9% less than Bellevue. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Bellevue, you would need $49,367 in Fort Myers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
249
Bellevue
112
Fort Myers
Groceries
111
Bellevue
104
Fort Myers
Utilities
100
Bellevue
101
Fort Myers
Transportation
134
Bellevue
103
Fort Myers
Healthcare
120
Bellevue
108
Fort Myers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $49,367 in Fort Myers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Myers equals $113,942 in Bellevue.

Living in Bellevue vs Fort Myers

Housing Costs

Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Fort Myers's 112, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $340,000. The $961,000 difference in home prices means roughly $62,460 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,575/mo in Fort Myers, a monthly difference of $950.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 104 in Fort Myers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $494/month in Fort Myers. Fort Myers offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 101 in Fort Myers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $404 in Fort Myers. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 108 in Fort Myers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $52,200 in Fort Myers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $50,192 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $1,218/month in Fort Myers. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/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 137 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Myers is 51.9% more affordable overall with an index of 104 vs 158.
A $75,000 salary in Bellevue has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,367 in Fort Myers, based on the cost of living difference.
Bellevue's housing index is 249 with median homes at $1.3M, while Fort Myers's is 112 with median homes at $340,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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