Fort Myers vs Newport News
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Myers
Newport News
The Verdict
Living in Newport News costs 13.0% less than Fort Myers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Myers, you would need $66,346 in Newport News.
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 $66,346 in Newport News.
Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $84,783 in Fort Myers.
Living in Fort Myers vs Newport News
Housing Costs
Fort Myers's housing index of 112 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $261,000. The $79,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,136 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Fort Myers compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Fort Myers and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Fort Myers vs $470/month in Newport News. 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 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Fort Myers vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Fort Myers and 111 in Newport News. 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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,192 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 37 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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