City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Orlando is cheaper. Median rent is $1,747 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Orlando and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 196 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Orlando wins on cost of living and Cape Coral wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Cape Coral has rougher pockets and Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Orlando and Cape Coral are 141 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $111 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $5,768 (8%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 46 in Cape Coral, down 196 points (81%).
The move
Cape Coral and Orlando are 141 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,747 a month in Orlando, down $111 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $72,336 in Orlando, down $5,768 (7%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 242 in Orlando, up 196 points (426%).
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cape Coral, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Orlando and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Orlando rent is 6% cheaper than Cape Coral
Orlando
Winner$1,747/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,747 a month in Orlando versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Orlando is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 8% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Cape Coral (about $5,768 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
81% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 81% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 81% lower in Cape Coral. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Cape Coral is the easier city. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Orlando
Orlando is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,747 a month. Choose Orlando if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Cape Coral is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($78,104). Start with Cape Coral if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Cape Coral is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 81% lower than Orlando (46 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,747/month in Orlando, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Orlando rent at $1,747/month is still below Cape Coral's $1,858, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,747 in Orlando and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Between Orlando and Cape Coral, Cape Coral is ahead on safety — 84/100 safety versus 33/100. Lean Orlando instead when you already know the Orlando block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Cape Coral, plus other cities in FL.
