City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data for St Louis and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where St Louis and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 306 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Cape Coral is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Cape Coral is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Louis and Cape Coral are 961 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $861 a month (86%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $21,944 (39%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 46 in Cape Coral, down 306 points (87%).
The move
Cape Coral and St Louis are 961 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $997 a month in St Louis, down $861 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $56,160 in St Louis, down $21,944 (28%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 352 in St Louis, up 306 points (665%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
St Louis rent is 46% cheaper than Cape Coral
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so St Louis is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $861/month back in your pocket ($10,332/year). Over five years that's $51,660 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Cape Coral, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 39% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Cape Coral (about $21,944 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Cape Coral is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
87% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 87% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 87% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Cape Coral weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Cape Coral
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cape Coral sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral scores 25% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose St Louis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 39% higher ($78,104), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 87% lower than St Louis (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
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 84/100 in Cape Coral). That 62-point spread matters more than the $861 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Median income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Pick Cape Coral when you want the stronger safety signal (84/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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