Cape Girardeau, MO vs Rolla, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO and Rolla, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Cape Girardeau scores 71 while Rolla scores 71 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 $790/month in Rolla — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rolla is more affordable at $177,400 median vs $186,100.

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $42,518 in Rolla (+29.1%). 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 22.3% in Rolla.