Torrance vs Cape Coral: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Torrance, California compare to Cape Coral, Florida? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Cape Coral is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 218% higher in Torrance compared to Cape Coral, while rent is 31% higher. FL has no state income tax.
| Metric | Torrance, CA | Cape Coral, FL | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $962,300 | $302,400 | +218.2% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,132 | $1,630 | +30.8% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $109,554 | $72,474 | +51.2% |
| Per Capita Income | $54,737 | $37,621 | +45.5% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 13.3% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.7% | 7.0% | +23.8% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 145,454 | 198,912 | -26.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Torrance
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Cape Coral
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Torrance costs $962,300 compared to $302,400 in Cape Coral — a 218% premium.
- Rent: Median rent is $2,132/mo in Torrance vs $1,630/mo in Cape Coral.
- Income: Median household income is $109,554 in Torrance and $72,474 in Cape Coral.
- Taxes: Florida has no state income tax, while California has a 13.3% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).