A
9%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
18%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Cape Girardeau Missouri National
Cost of living9188100
Goods & Services9292100
Groceries9795100
Health care8990100
Housing8278100
Transportation9491100
Utilities10299100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Cape Girardeau, MO

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Cape Girardeau? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Cape Girardeau stands at 91, making it 9% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Cape Girardeau is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Is Cape Girardeau Affordable?

Is Cape Girardeau an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Cape Girardeau, the median home price is 16.9% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 19.7% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Cape Girardeau come in at $45,713, which is 17.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cape Girardeau?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Cape Girardeau, the housing index comes in at 17.8% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Cape Girardeau, healthcare costs are 11.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Cape Girardeau displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Cape Girardeau is 2% higher than the Missouri average
  • The cost of living in Cape Girardeau is 9% lower than the national average
  • Cape Girardeau housing is 18% lower than the national average
  • Missouri general sales tax is 17% lower than the national average
  • Missouri state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Cape Girardeau

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Compare Cape Girardeau, MO Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$68,918$5,743$1,608$2,068
      Renters$27,230$2,269$635$817
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Cape Girardeau is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Cape Girardeau has a median income of about $68,918 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,608 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $27,230. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $635 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Missouri Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Missouri 4.225% 10.85%

      Missouri Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Missouri 2% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Cape Girardeau National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.19$24.2612.7%
      Beauty Salon $40.57$45.5611.0%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.11$1.2813.3%
      Movie $11.28$12.137.1%
      Bowling $16.92$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item Cape Girardeau National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.40$5.849.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.36$1.5713.3%
      Milk $4.50$4.673.7%
      Potatoes $5.28$4.936.9%
      Pizza $10.84$12.0910.3%
      Beer $9.47$10.419.1%

      Health Care

      Item Cape Girardeau National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.72$125.680.0%
      Doctor $124.51$135.788.3%
      Dentist $100.78$113.2911.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.14$10.654.8%
      Lipitor $520.16$468.6011.0%

      Housing

      Item Cape Girardeau National avg. Difference
      Home Price $153,400.00$184,700.0016.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,737.43$2,346.6926.0%
      Apartment Rent $762.00$949.0019.7%

      Transportation

      Item Cape Girardeau National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $50.00$59.9216.6%

      Utilities

      Item Cape Girardeau National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $133.84$193.9931.0%
      Phone $188.69$192.251.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lambert, MO26928.0%
      Allenville, MO1017129.1%
      Mill Creek, IL307624.2%
      Commerce, MO1127525.4%
      Thebes, IL5507524.8%
      Cape Girardeau, MO40,100919.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hollister, CA40,10015655.9%
      San Gabriel, CA40,10817776.6%
      Quincy, IL40,1118910.6%
      Spanish Fork, UT40,06911515.0%
      Montclair, CA40,04113635.5%
      Cape Girardeau, MO40,100919.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.