City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Phoenix and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
Phoenix is cheaper. Median rent is $1,582 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where Phoenix and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 128 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. Phoenix wins on cost of living and the job market and Cape Coral wins on 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 Phoenix has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Phoenix and Cape Coral are 1,857 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $276 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $78,104 in Cape Coral, down $3,228 (4%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 46 in Cape Coral, down 128 points (74%).
The move
Cape Coral and Phoenix are 1,857 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, down $276 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $3,228 (4%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 174 in Phoenix, up 128 points (278%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Phoenix rent is 15% cheaper than Cape Coral
Phoenix
Winner$1,582/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,582 a month in Phoenix versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so Phoenix is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,312, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Phoenix still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Cape Coral.
Planning to buy in Phoenix? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Phoenix's median income is 4% higher than Cape Coral
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Cape Coral
$78,104
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $78,104 in Cape Coral, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Phoenix (about $3,228 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
74% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 74% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Phoenix and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
Phoenix
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 76°F (81°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Phoenix sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral sits near 72°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Phoenix is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,582 a month. Choose Phoenix if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
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 74% lower than Phoenix (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Cape Coral: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 43/100 in Phoenix, with typical rent at $1,858 versus $1,582. I would vet the exact ZIP in Phoenix before trading 41 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (84/100 in Cape Coral vs 43/100 in Phoenix), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $78,104 in Cape Coral.
If safety drives your move, Cape Coral is the stronger match (84/100 safety versus 43/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Phoenix, treat $1,582/month rent and $81,332 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Cape Coral, plus other cities in AZ and FL.
