Cape Girardeau, MO vs St. Joseph, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO and St. Joseph, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.9% difference in their overall index. Cape Girardeau scores 71 while St. Joseph scores 69 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 $884/month in St. Joseph — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cape Girardeau has cheaper rent, St. Joseph actually has lower median home values ($144,200 vs $186,100).

Median household income in Cape Girardeau is $54,870 compared to $55,578 in St. Joseph (-1.3%). St. Joseph offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cape Girardeau spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in St. Joseph.