Cape Girardeau, MO vs Lebanon, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO and Lebanon, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.3% difference in their overall index. Cape Girardeau scores 71 while Lebanon scores 68 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 $814/month in Lebanon — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lebanon is more affordable at $152,200 median vs $186,100.

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $42,157 in Lebanon (+30.2%). 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 23.2% in Lebanon.