Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cape Girardeau, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cape Girardeau, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $2,944 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,002 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 41% more expensive than Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Cape Girardeau, MO 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.14 $15.14

29.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$49.36 $49.36

52.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$7.04 $7.04

40.91%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.23 $5.23

8.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.14 $2.14

29.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.77 $1.77

22.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.22 $3.22

81.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$4.38 $4.38

77.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.78 $0.78

39.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.26 $2.26

50.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.35 $3.35

2.39%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.01 $4.01

9.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.81 $10.81

10.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.59 $8.59

25.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$10.98 $10.98

30.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$9.05 $9.05

-46.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.85 $1.85

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$7.80 $7.80

-42.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$8.70 $8.70

-55.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.22 $3.22

-14.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$6.89 $6.89

-60.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.90 $2.90

-29.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.22 $2.22

1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.69 $7.69

16.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.12 $15.12

-1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.98 $3.98

-10.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.96 $1.96

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.43 $3.43

24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.57 $1.57

17.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.21 $29.21

21.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.81 $0.81

-11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.3K $27.3K

-5.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$19.9K $19.9K

31.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 $174

$151 $151

14.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$43.93 $43.93

37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$78.6 $78.6

-15.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$19.95 $19.95

214.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.44 $13.44

13.39%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,387 $1,387

$743 $743

86.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

-6.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$39.30 $39.30

44.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$40.69 $40.69

11.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$86.6 $86.6

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$39.86 $39.86

198.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$798 $798

181.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$806 $806

77.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,402 $1,402

169.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,635 $1,635

61.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,462 $1,462

381.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,432 $1,432

120.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$2,487 $2,487

105.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 105% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $49.00 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $408, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Cape Girardeau, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Girardeau, MO wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cape Girardeau, MO the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 105% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $743 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cape Girardeau, MO – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cape Girardeau, MO but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Cape Girardeau, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Cape Girardeau, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.