Fort Myers vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Myers
Madison
The Verdict
Fort Myers is 1.9% less expensive than Madison overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Myers would need approximately $76,442 in Madison 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 $76,442 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $73,585 in Fort Myers.
Living in Fort Myers vs Madison
Housing Costs
Fort Myers's housing index of 112 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $340,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Fort Myers compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Fort Myers and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Fort Myers vs $480/month in Madison. 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 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Fort Myers vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Fort Myers and 105 in Madison. 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 $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,192 and $63,741 respectively. Madison 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 $1,577/month in Madison. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 4 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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