Cape Girardeau, MO vs Gladstone, MO

Cape Girardeau is moderately more affordable than Gladstone, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Cape Girardeau scores 71 compared to 84 for Gladstone, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gladstone can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape Girardeau is $855/month compared to $1,095/month in Gladstone — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cape Girardeau is more affordable at $186,100 median vs $217,900.

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $72,134 in Gladstone (-23.9%). While Gladstone is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Girardeau spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, more than the 18.2% in Gladstone.