Cape Coral vs Miami Beach

The short version

  • Cape Coral is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 10% lower than in the Miami Beach area (BEA 2024).
  • The median home costs $373,500 in Cape Coral and $556,700 in Miami Beach.
  • Households earn more in Cape Coral ($78,104 vs $72,856 median).
  • Cape Coral has more scorching days: 120 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 30.
  • Cape Coral is growing faster: +21.8% since 2020 vs -1.6%.
  • Commutes are shorter in Miami Beach (27 vs 30 minutes each way).

Side by side

Cape Coral, FLMiami Beach, FL
People
Population (2025)236,26481,594
Growth since 2020+21.8%-1.6%
People per square mile2,22410,606
Median age48.642.9
Bachelor's degree or higher27%53%
Money and housing
Median household income$78,104$72,856
Median home value$373,500$556,700
Home value to income4.8×7.6×
Median rent (with utilities)$1,858$1,826
Metro price level (US = 100)102.3114.2
Housing price level (US = 100)125.1155.6
$75,000 elsewhere equals$76,800$85,600
Homeowners77%41%
Top state income taxNoneNone
Combined sales tax6.98%6.98%
Work and commute
Average commute (minutes)29.926.7
Work from home15%24%
Take public transit0%6%
Unemployment (2020-24 avg)3.8%4.6%
Poverty rate10.7%14.4%
Weather
January high / low75° / 54°74° / 61°
July high / low92° / 75°88° / 78°
Precipitation per year57 in57 in
Snowfall per year0 in0 in
Days 90°F or hotter12030
Nights below freezing00
Comfortable months66
Risks, air and home prices
Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county)Relatively HighVery High
FEMA risk score (lower is safer)99.099.6
Good air days, 202576%53%
Home prices, past year-0.9%+1.3%
Home prices, past 5 years+27.8%+67.7%

Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.

Weather, month by month

50°60°70°80°90°100°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Cape Coral Miami Beach. Solid lines are average highs, dashed lines average lows (°F), NOAA 1991-2020 normals.

Most comfortable months: Cape Coral: November to April. Miami Beach: November to April.

Full monthly tables: Cape Coral weather by month and Miami Beach weather by month.

What $75,000 is worth

A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $76,800 in Cape Coral and $85,600 in Miami Beach. Moving from Cape Coral to Miami Beach, you would need about $83,700 to match a $75,000 salary.

Try your own salary

Moving between Cape Coral and Miami Beach

1,161people moved from Lee County, FL to Miami-Dade County, FL in a year
3,807moved the other way

IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Cape Coral and Miami Beach.

Which would you pick?

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