What is the cost of living in Cape Girardeau, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cape Girardeau has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Cape Girardeau has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Cape Girardeau ranks as #69 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Cape Girardeau ranks as the #75 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Cape Girardeau, check out:
Cape Girardeau Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cape Girardeau. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cape Girardeau is 96.
The Groceries index in Cape Girardeau is 96.
The Health index in Cape Girardeau is 82.
The Housing index in Cape Girardeau is 97.
The Transportation index in Cape Girardeau is 99.
The Utilities index in Cape Girardeau is 96.
| Living Expense | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 96 | 100 |
Cape Girardeau Cost Of Living Compared To Missouri Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Cape Girardeau Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cape Girardeau, MO Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Missouri, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Cape Girardeau is $219,807.
The Median Rent in Cape Girardeau is $876.
The Median Income in Cape Girardeau is $55,658.
The Home Value To Income in Cape Girardeau is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cape Girardeau is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $219,807 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $876 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,658 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Cape Girardeau, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Cape Girardeau Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Cape Girardeau | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.11 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.28 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.92 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.19 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cape Girardeau Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Cape Girardeau | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.4 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.5 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.28 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.84 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cape Girardeau Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Cape Girardeau | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cape Girardeau Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Cape Girardeau | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cape Girardeau Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Cape Girardeau | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
Cape Girardeau SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cape Girardeau
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cape Girardeau. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Carbondale, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Cape Girardeau.
Marion, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Cape Girardeau.
Jackson, MO has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Cape Girardeau.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cape Girardeau |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Marion, IL | 16,836 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Jackson, MO | 15,659 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Herrin, IL | 12,226 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Perryville, MO | 8,536 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Chester, IL | 6,797 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Murphysboro, IL | 6,735 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Metropolis, IL | 5,864 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Carterville, IL | 5,818 | 93 | 1.0x |
