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: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,098 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,210 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 33% more expensive than in Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Cape Girardeau, MO 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$17.52 $17.52

13.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$56.6 $56.6

48.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$7.06 $7.06

73.80%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$6.48 $6.48

-13.12%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.80 $2.80

28.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.97 $1.97

20.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$2.91 $2.91

169.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.85 $7.85

15.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.10 $1.10

3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.24 $2.24

62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.02 $4.02

-17.66%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.97 $2.97

49.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$13.18 $13.18

-1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$14.38 $14.38

2.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$18.32 $18.32

-4.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.25 $3.25

41.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.46 $1.46

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.05 $4.05

17.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.86 $4.86

1.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.72 $2.72

10.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.03 $3.03

-9.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.29 $2.29

-14.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.30 $2.30

-4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$7.33 $7.33

26.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.83 $14.83

0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.68 $1.68

70.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.64 $4.64

-22.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$5.08 $5.08

-44.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.60 $1.60

-0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$20.84 $20.84

66.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.78 $0.78

21.79%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$37.9K $37.9K

-5.82%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

8.13%

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

$229 $229

$198 $198

15.96%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$42.07 $42.07

39.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$77.6 $77.6

-10.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$20.11 $20.11

227.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$15.13 $15.13

-8.39%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,457 $1,457

3.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$30.1K $30.1K

-30.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$44.61 $44.61

20.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$39.71 $39.71

11.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$83.9 $83.9

8.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$39.66 $39.66

172.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$792 $792

143.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$857 $857

47.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,610 $1,610

134.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,644 $1,644

57.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$1,426 $1,426

414.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$1,446 $1,446

123.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$2,463 $2,463

104.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.07

6.10%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $792 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $57.0 in Cape Girardeau, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $392 per month, with Cape Girardeau, MO cheaper across the board.

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 33% 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.

Average pay runs 105% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $792 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $1,457 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 $57.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,646 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 33% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.