City Comparison

Fort Myers vs Irving

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Myers

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

Irving

Texas
100
Average
$318,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$73,400
Median Income

The Verdict

4.0%

Living in Irving costs 4.0% less than Fort Myers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Myers, you would need $72,115 in Irving.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
112
Fort Myers
94
Irving
Groceries
104
Fort Myers
99
Irving
Utilities
101
Fort Myers
111
Irving
Transportation
103
Fort Myers
97
Irving
Healthcare
108
Fort Myers
103
Irving

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Myers has the same purchasing power as $72,115 in Irving.

Conversely, $75,000 in Irving equals $78,000 in Fort Myers.

Living in Fort Myers vs Irving

Housing Costs

Fort Myers's housing index of 112 is higher Irving's 94, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $318,000. The $22,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,428 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Fort Myers compared to $1,350/mo in Irving, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Fort Myers and 99 in Irving. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Fort Myers vs $470/month in Irving. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Fort Myers and 111 in Irving. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Fort Myers vs $444 in Irving. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Fort Myers and 103 in Irving. 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 $52,200 in Fort Myers and $73,400 in Irving. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,192 and $73,400 respectively. Irving residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,218/month to housing in Fort Myers vs $1,713/month in Irving. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Irving, median rent of $1,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Irving is 4.0% more affordable overall with an index of 100 vs 104.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Myers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,115 in Irving, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Myers's housing index is 112 with median homes at $340,000, while Irving's is 94 with median homes at $318,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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