City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 167, using 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
St Petersburg is cheaper. Median rent is $1,663 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where St Petersburg and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 119 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,663 in St Petersburg and $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. St Petersburg 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 St Petersburg has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Petersburg and Cape Coral are 103 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $195 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $2,912 (4%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 46 in Cape Coral, down 119 points (72%).
The move
Cape Coral and St Petersburg are 103 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, down $195 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $2,912 (4%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 165 in St Petersburg, up 119 points (259%).
St Petersburg, 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 St Petersburg and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
St Petersburg rent is 10% cheaper than Cape Coral
St Petersburg
Winner$1,663/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,663 a month in St Petersburg versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so St Petersburg is 10% 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 $2,340, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Petersburg 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 Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 4% higher than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
$75,192
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Cape Coral (about $2,912 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
72% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 72% lower than St Petersburg
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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 Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
St Petersburg and Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 72°F (79°F highs). St Petersburg sits near 77°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Petersburg
St Petersburg is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,663 a month. Choose St Petersburg 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 4% 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 72% lower than St Petersburg (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Cape Coral leads on safety (84/100 vs 45/100 in St Petersburg). Typical rent is $1,858 in Cape Coral and $1,663 in St Petersburg; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $195 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $75,192 in St Petersburg.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Cape Coral; St Petersburg only makes sense when you have walked the St Petersburg ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,663 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Cape Coral?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cape Coral when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Petersburg and Cape Coral, plus other cities in FL.
