Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Girardeau, MO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Girardeau, MO and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,923 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,002 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $4,576 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,081 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $6,143 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Cape Girardeau, MO costs roughly 36% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cape Girardeau, MO 44% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.01 $15.01

$20.27 $20.27

-25.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.33 $49.33

$101 $101

-51.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 $6.81

$12.04 $12.04

-43.44%

Cappuccino

$5.17 $5.17

$5.76 $5.76

-10.24%

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

$2.23 $2.23

$2.97 $2.97

-24.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.38 $2.38

-27.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 $3.26

$7.20 $7.20

-54.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 $4.48

$8.05 $8.05

-44.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.09 $1.09

-34.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 $2.25

$4.12 $4.12

-45.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$5.29 $5.29

-38.94%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$4.56 $4.56

-11.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 $10.66

$14.45 $14.45

-26.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.69 $8.69

$14.79 $14.79

-41.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 $11.06

$19.56 $19.56

-43.46%

Apples (1kg)

$8.70 $8.70

$5.42 $5.42

60.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.71 $1.71

5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.18 $4.18

85.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.84 $8.84

$4.59 $4.59

92.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.48 $2.48

29.44%

Onion (1kg)

$6.80 $6.80

$2.72 $2.72

150.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.47 $2.47

18.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.72 $2.72

-18.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.42 $7.42

$14.78 $14.78

-49.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.30 $15.30

-2.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.74 $3.74

8.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.47 $2.47

-16.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.32 $3.32

3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.37 $1.37

14.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.66 $28.66

$24.65 $24.65

16.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.05 $1.05

-21.90%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-15.17%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

-22.72%

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

$152 $152

$186 $186

-18.34%

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

$43.09 $43.09

$62.6 $62.6

-31.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.6 $78.6

$67.5 $67.5

16.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.77 $19.77

$75.2 $75.2

-73.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$15.10 $15.10

-10.46%

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

$753 $753

$2,023 $2,023

-62.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$39.9K $39.9K

-41.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.12 $39.12

$64.2 $64.2

-39.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 $40.05

$51.2 $51.2

-21.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 $84.5

$96.2 $96.2

-12.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.05 $40.05

$147 $147

-72.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$782 $782

$2,329 $2,329

-66.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$826 $826

$1,570 $1,570

-47.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,394 $1,394

$4,677 $4,677

-70.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,664 $1,664

$2,810 $2,810

-40.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,431 $1,431

$4,082 $4,082

-64.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 $1,423

$2,645 $2,645

-46.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,409 $2,409

$4,883 $4,883

-50.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $782 in Cape Girardeau, MO and $2,329 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 103% 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: $49.00 in Cape Girardeau, MO vs $101 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $450 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

Cape Girardeau, MO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Girardeau, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 103% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $782 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,329 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,923 per month in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,923 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cape Girardeau, MO but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Cape Girardeau, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cape Girardeau, MO is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cape Girardeau, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.