Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Girardeau, MO and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Girardeau, MO and Johnson City, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,069 in Johnson City, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,944 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,019 in Johnson City, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,002 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,968 in Johnson City, TN.

Living in Cape Girardeau, MO costs roughly 9% less than in Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cape Girardeau, MO 41% above, Johnson City, TN 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.14 $15.14

$12.78 $12.78

18.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.36 $49.36

$49.26 $49.26

0.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.04 $7.04

$11.80 $11.80

-40.34%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$3.79 $3.79

37.99%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$2.10 $2.10

1.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.74 $1.74

1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 $3.22

$5.06 $5.06

-36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.85 $5.85

-25.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.00 $1.00

-22.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 $2.26

$3.83 $3.83

-40.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.06 $3.06

9.48%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$3.28 $3.28

22.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$7.49 $7.49

44.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.59 $8.59

$8.43 $8.43

1.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$13.30 $13.30

-17.44%

Apples (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$4.01 $4.01

125.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.62 $1.62

14.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

$3.96 $3.96

96.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.70 $8.70

$3.61 $3.61

141.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.44 $2.44

31.97%

Onion (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$3.65 $3.65

88.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.86 $1.86

55.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.69 $7.69

$7.33 $7.33

4.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$13.20 $13.20

14.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.62 $1.62

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.09 $4.09

-2.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.56 $2.56

-23.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.08 $37.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.40 $5.40

-36.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.48 $1.48

6.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.21 $29.21

$64.1 $64.1

-54.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.78 $0.78

3.85%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

-8.72%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$22.4K $22.4K

-11.14%

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

$151 $151

0.27%

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

$43.93 $43.93

$74.6 $74.6

-41.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.6 $78.6

$52.1 $52.1

51.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.95 $19.95

$47.39 $47.39

-57.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.31 $20.31

Cinema Ticket

$13.44 $13.44

$12.94 $12.94

3.86%

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

$743 $743

$909 $909

-18.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$14.7K $14.7K

61.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.30 $39.30

$39.32 $39.32

-0.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.69 $40.69

$36.77 $36.77

10.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

$62.7 $62.7

38.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.86 $39.86

$116 $116

-65.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 $798

$1,182 $1,182

-32.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$806 $806

$1,023 $1,023

-21.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,402 $1,402

$2,035 $2,035

-31.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,635 $1,635

$1,636 $1,636

-0.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,462 $1,462

$2,156 $2,156

-32.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,432 $1,432

$2,218 $2,218

-35.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,487 $2,487

$3,409 $3,409

-27.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.15

4.88%

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

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

Last update for Johnson City, TN: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO and $1,182 in Johnson City, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johnson City, TN pays 37% 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 $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. Groceries flip the comparison at $408 vs $333, with Johnson City, TN 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

Cape Girardeau, MO vs Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Girardeau, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Johnson City, TN earns 37% less. 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: $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,182 in Johnson City, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Johnson City, TN pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,885 per month in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,069 in Johnson City, TN – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,069 in Johnson City, TN, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cape Girardeau, MO but tight or insufficient in Johnson City, TN. 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.

Safety-wise, Cape Girardeau, MO and Johnson City, TN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cape Girardeau, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Johnson City, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.