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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $2,944 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,002 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 63% more expensive than Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Cape Girardeau, MO 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.14 $15.14

38.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$49.36 $49.36

98.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.04 $7.04

68.47%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.23 $5.23

7.07%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.14 $2.14

43.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.77 $1.77

39.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.22 $3.22

121.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$4.38 $4.38

84.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.78 $0.78

34.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.26 $2.26

81.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.35 $3.35

67.46%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.01 $4.01

12.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.81 $10.81

32.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$8.59 $8.59

73.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$10.98 $10.98

74.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$9.05 $9.05

-43.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.85 $1.85

-4.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$7.80 $7.80

-43.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$8.70 $8.70

-47.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.22 $3.22

-21.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$6.89 $6.89

-60.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.90 $2.90

-16.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.22 $2.22

18.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$7.69 $7.69

94.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.12 $15.12

-2.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.69 $1.69

45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.98 $3.98

-6.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.96 $1.96

26.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.43 $3.43

-7.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.57 $1.57

-9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.21 $29.21

-14.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.81 $0.81

30.86%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$27.3K $27.3K

16.92%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$19.9K $19.9K

30.76%

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

$185 $185

$151 $151

22.39%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$43.93 $43.93

40.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$78.6 $78.6

-14.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$19.95 $19.95

276.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.44 $13.44

9.45%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$743 $743

171.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

66.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$39.30 $39.30

64.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.69 $40.69

28.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$86.6 $86.6

13.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$39.86 $39.86

270.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$798 $798

189.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$806 $806

97.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,402 $1,402

228.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,635 $1,635

69.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,462 $1,462

168.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,432 $1,432

82.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$2,487 $2,487

109.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 110% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $49.00 in Cape Girardeau, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $408 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

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

Cape Girardeau, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 110% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $798 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,885 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,077 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 63% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.