Overall
86.1
-13.9 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Cost-of-living indicators for Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 86.1
- Overall RPP
- #364
- of 387 metros
- 56.4
- Rents RPP
- $116K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Cape Girardeau costs less than 94% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 86.1, 13.9% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 56.4.
- 86.1
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #364
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 6%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 56.4
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $116,174 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $86,078.
What the Numbers Mean for Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau ranks #364 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 86.1, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL is 13.9% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Cape Girardeau's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 56.4 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $116,174 inside Cape Girardeau, while a household needs roughly $86,078 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 56.4 — 43.6% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Cape Girardeau's overall index has risen by 4.8 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 94.2 and services at 85.6, meaning everyday spending in Cape Girardeau is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Cape Girardeau vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
86 Top 94% higher than 6% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Cape Girardeau cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
56.4 RPP
- Services
Services
85.6 RPP
- Overall
Overall
86.1 RPP
- Goods
Goods
94.2 RPP
What this shows Cape Girardeau's gap from the national average is led by rents at 56.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Cape Girardeau's cost comes from
Metros near Cape Girardeau's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 94.2, rents 55.9). Cape Girardeau is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Cape Girardeau's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
94.2
-5.8 below avg
Services
85.6
-14.4 below avg
Rents
56.4
-43.6 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$86,078
in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$43,039
$75,000 nationally
$64,559
$125,000 nationally
$107,598
$150,000 nationally
$129,117
$200,000 nationally
$172,156
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 4.8 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.3 |
| 2009 | 83.0 |
| 2010 | 87.8 |
| 2011 | 87.0 |
| 2012 | 88.5 |
| 2013 | 89.4 |
| 2014 | 88.1 |
| 2015 | 86.3 |
| 2016 | 86.1 |
| 2017 | 85.2 |
| 2018 | 87.8 |
| 2019 | 90.0 |
| 2020 | 88.9 |
| 2021 | 88.5 |
| 2022 | 86.2 |
| 2023 | 86.1 |
| 2024 | 86.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Cape Girardeau, MO-IL's index of 86.1.
Other MO Metros
What this means for Cape Girardeau
How to read Cape Girardeau's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $116,174 in Cape Girardeau. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 56.4 (43.6% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $67,267; adjusted for Cape Girardeau's price level that is about $78,147 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Cape Girardeau head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL? ▼
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 86.1, meaning it is 13.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 94.2, services at 85.6, and rents at 56.4. It ranks #364 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $86,078 in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL. Conversely, $100K earned in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL has the purchasing power of $116,174 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL? ▼
Rents in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL are indexed at 56.4, which is 43.6% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Cape Girardeau, MO-IL getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL's overall cost index changed by +4.8 points (from 81.3 to 86.1). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Cape Girardeau, MO-IL? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Paducah, Brownsville-Harlingen, Anniston-Oxford. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Cape Girardeau, MO-IL's 86.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
