Fort Myers vs Lexington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Myers
Lexington
The Verdict
Lexington is 11.8% less expensive than Fort Myers overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Myers would need approximately $67,067 in Lexington to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fort Myers has the same purchasing power as $67,067 in Lexington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $83,871 in Fort Myers.
Living in Fort Myers vs Lexington
Housing Costs
Fort Myers's housing index of 112 is higher Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $245,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Fort Myers compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Fort Myers and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Fort Myers vs $456/month in Lexington. Lexington offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Fort Myers and 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Fort Myers vs $364 in Lexington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Fort Myers and 94 in Lexington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $52,200 in Fort Myers and $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,192 and $59,837 respectively. Lexington 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 $1,298/month in Lexington. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases