😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,984 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,681 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,048 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,112 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cape Girardeau, MO is roughly 18% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cape Girardeau, MO45% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.56$17.56
$8.02COP 25.0K
118.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5$57.5
$47.87COP 149.4K
20.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16$7.16
$9.89COP 30.8K
-27.60%
Cappuccino
$6.57$6.57
$3.13COP 9,767
109.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$1.91COP 5,954
54.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$1.51COP 4,712
31.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94$2.94
$3.12COP 9,747
-5.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16$8.16
$5.75COP 17.9K
41.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15$1.15
$1.44COP 4,509
-20.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22$2.22
$2.49COP 7,759
-10.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.98$3.98
$1.77COP 5,535
124.86%
Eggs
$2.98$2.98
$2.96COP 9,235
0.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.06$13.06
$10.07COP 31.4K
29.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.12$14.12
$10.12COP 31.6K
39.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.40$18.40
$14.30COP 44.6K
28.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35$3.35
$4.14COP 12.9K
-19.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53$1.53
$1.61COP 5,019
-4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.16$4.16
$2.25COP 7,007
84.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.85$4.85
$2.25COP 7,028
115.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$2.04COP 6,375
32.84%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08$3.08
$1.54COP 4,790
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29$2.29
$1.17COP 3,651
95.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$1.31COP 4,077
78.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.46$7.46
$3.90COP 12.2K
91.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.23$15.23
$14.01COP 43.7K
8.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$1.74COP 5,439
-2.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65$4.65
$2.87COP 8,956
62.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,792
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.02$5.02
$1.31COP 4,084
283.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53$1.53
$2.19COP 6,825
-30.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.93$20.93
$8.71COP 27.2K
140.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.37COP 4,260
-43.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K$37.4K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
34.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-29.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203$203
$177COP 553.2K
14.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.93$41.93
$13.88COP 43.3K
202.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.5$77.5
$29.72COP 92.8K
160.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.14$20.14
$44.88COP 140.1K
-55.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.01$15.01
$6.65COP 20.7K
125.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,444$1,444
$813COP 2.5M
77.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.8K$30.8K
$9,187COP 28.7M
234.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.70$45.70
$89.5COP 279.3K
-48.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.67$39.67
$59.0COP 184.0K
-32.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4$85.4
$138COP 431.2K
-38.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.46$40.46
$102COP 318.7K
-60.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798$798
$1,062COP 3.3M
-24.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$874$874
$663COP 2.1M
31.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,565$1,565
$1,888COP 5.9M
-17.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,644$1,644
$1,027COP 3.2M
60.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,464$1,464
$4,183COP 13.1M
-65.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,414$1,414
$1,675COP 5.2M
-15.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Girardeau, MO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,420$2,420
$678COP 2.1M
257.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.07
10.94
-44.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cape Girardeau, MO pays 257% 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: $57.0 in Cape Girardeau, MO vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $305 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. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cape Girardeau, MO or Medellin?
Average pay runs 257% higher in Cape Girardeau, MO, 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 $1,062 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% 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 and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,984 per month in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Cape Girardeau, MO or in Medellin?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,984 in Cape Girardeau, MO, a $2,500 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 18% 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