Cape Girardeau, MO vs Hazelwood, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO and Hazelwood, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.8% difference in their overall index. Cape Girardeau scores 71 while Hazelwood scores 75 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape Girardeau is $855/month compared to $956/month in Hazelwood — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cape Girardeau has cheaper rent, Hazelwood actually has lower median home values ($154,900 vs $186,100).

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $55,930 in Hazelwood (-1.9%). Hazelwood does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Girardeau spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, less than the 20.5% in Hazelwood.