Cape Girardeau, MO vs Joplin, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO and Joplin, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.1% difference in their overall index. Cape Girardeau scores 71 while Joplin scores 70 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 $889/month in Joplin — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cape Girardeau has cheaper rent, Joplin actually has lower median home values ($159,700 vs $186,100).

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $51,154 in Joplin (+7.3%). While Cape Girardeau 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, less than the 20.9% in Joplin.