Cape Girardeau, MO vs St. Charles, MO

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Cape Girardeau is 22.7% cheaper than St. Charles. With a cost index of 71 vs 92, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Cape Girardeau to St. Charles should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cape Girardeau is $855/month compared to $1,186/month in St. Charles — a 28% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cape Girardeau is more affordable at $186,100 median vs $280,800.

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $85,522 in St. Charles (-35.8%). While St. Charles 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 16.6% in St. Charles.