City Comparison

Cape Coral vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cape Coral

Florida
104
Average
$365,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$78,100
Median Income

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

33.3%

Springfield is 33.3% less expensive than Cape Coral overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cape Coral would need approximately $56,250 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
118
Cape Coral
52
Springfield
Groceries
104
Cape Coral
98
Springfield
Utilities
103
Cape Coral
98
Springfield
Transportation
107
Cape Coral
114
Springfield
Healthcare
111
Cape Coral
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cape Coral has the same purchasing power as $56,250 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $100,000 in Cape Coral.

Living in Cape Coral vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Cape Coral's housing index of 118 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $365,000 vs $162,000. The $203,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,200 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Cape Coral compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $775.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Cape Coral and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Cape Coral vs $466/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Cape Coral and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Cape Coral vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 111 in Cape Coral and 91 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $78,100 in Cape Coral and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $75,096 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,822/month to housing in Cape Coral vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Cape Coral, median rent of $1,700/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 66 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 33.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Cape Coral has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $56,250 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Cape Coral's housing index is 118 with median homes at $365,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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