😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,944 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,002 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Cape Girardeau, MO is roughly 86% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cape Girardeau, MO is 41% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.14$15.14
$5.99COP 21.4K
152.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.36$49.36
$32.86COP 117.4K
50.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.04$7.04
$7.09COP 25.3K
-0.71%
Cappuccino
$5.23$5.23
$1.71COP 6,115
205.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14$2.14
$1.10COP 3,924
94.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$0.78COP 2,781
126.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.22$3.22
$1.68COP 5,997
91.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38$4.38
$3.07COP 11.0K
42.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.09COP 3,906
-28.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26$2.26
$1.26COP 4,508
79.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.35$3.35
$1.38COP 4,922
142.75%
Eggs
$4.01$4.01
$2.19COP 7,827
83.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.81$10.81
$4.40COP 15.7K
145.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59$8.59
$5.63COP 20.1K
52.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.98$10.98
$8.89COP 31.8K
23.51%
Apples(1kg)
$9.05$9.05
$2.34COP 8,349
286.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85$1.85
$1.06COP 3,777
74.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.80$7.80
$1.50COP 5,374
420.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$8.70$8.70
$1.38COP 4,924
530.43%
Potato(1kg)
$3.22$3.22
$1.15COP 4,111
180.00%
Onion(1kg)
$6.89$6.89
$1.16COP 4,155
493.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.90$2.90
$0.89COP 3,182
225.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$0.84COP 2,997
164.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.69$7.69
$2.28COP 8,145
237.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.12$15.12
$10.64COP 38.0K
42.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.20COP 4,284
40.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98$3.98
$2.47COP 8,824
61.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$0.86COP 3,056
127.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43$3.43
$1.47COP 5,264
133.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.96COP 7,009
-19.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.21$29.21
$7.74COP 27.6K
277.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$0.95COP 3,409
-14.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K$27.3K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
50.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K$19.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-24.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151$151
$82.3COP 293.7K
83.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.93$43.93
$9.50COP 33.9K
362.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6$78.6
$24.23COP 86.5K
224.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.95$19.95
$25.89COP 92.4K
-22.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.44$13.44
$3.93COP 14.0K
241.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$743$743
$309COP 1.1M
140.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$5,965COP 21.3M
297.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.30$39.30
$58.7COP 209.5K
-33.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.69$40.69
$32.35COP 115.5K
25.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.6$86.6
$103COP 366.4K
-15.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.86$39.86
$108COP 387.2K
-63.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798$798
$476COP 1.7M
67.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$806$806
$379COP 1.4M
112.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,402$1,402
$838COP 3.0M
67.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,635$1,635
$724COP 2.6M
125.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,462$1,462
$2,791COP 10.0M
-47.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,432$1,432
$1,211COP 4.3M
18.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,487$2,487
$512COP 1.8M
386.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
13.43
-51.97%
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 Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cape Girardeau, MO pays 386% 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 $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $188 per month, with Medellin 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cape Girardeau, MO?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cape Girardeau, MO or Medellin?
Cape Girardeau, MO pays 386% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cape Girardeau, MO and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cape Girardeau, MO and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 116% higher in Cape Girardeau, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cape Girardeau, MO vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,885 per month in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cape Girardeau, MO or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cape Girardeau, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cape Girardeau, MO or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cape Girardeau, MO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Cape Girardeau, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cape Girardeau, MO vs other spots: cost of living compared