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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,089 in Johnson City, TN versus $1,929 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,017 in Johnson City, TN versus $2,950 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,945 in Johnson City, TN versus $3,970 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Living in Johnson City, TN is roughly 8% more expensive than in Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Johnson City, TN 56% above, Cape Girardeau, MO 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.03 $13.03

$15.30 $15.30

-14.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$49.41 $49.41

1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.01 $12.01

$6.83 $6.83

75.84%

Cappuccino

$3.78 $3.78

$5.24 $5.24

-27.86%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$2.21 $2.21

-1.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 $1.73

-0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.28 $3.28

54.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.48 $4.48

33.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.71 $0.71

39.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.25 $2.25

64.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.33 $3.33

-4.80%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$4.09 $4.09

-20.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$10.94 $10.94

-31.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$8.88 $8.88

-2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 $13.24

$11.13 $11.13

18.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$8.94 $8.94

-53.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.79 $1.79

-11.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$7.54 $7.54

-48.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$8.69 $8.69

-59.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.21 $3.21

-25.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$6.72 $6.72

-44.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$3.02 $3.02

-39.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.21 $2.21

-0.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 $7.62

$7.52 $7.52

1.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 $12.96

$14.96 $14.96

-13.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.71 $1.71

-6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.96 $3.96

-0.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.03 $2.03

22.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 $37.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.49 $3.49

60.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.51 $1.51

-5.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$64.0 $64.0

$29.35 $29.35

118.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.82 $0.82

-3.66%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

11.18%

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

$22.4K $22.4K

$20.0K $20.0K

12.09%

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

$148 $148

-0.17%

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

$75.2 $75.2

$44.49 $44.49

68.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 $52.4

$78.6 $78.6

-33.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.69 $46.69

$20.18 $20.18

131.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.97 $19.97

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 $12.87

$13.47 $13.47

-4.45%

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

$902 $902

$732 $732

23.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K $14.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

-38.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 $38.62

$39.93 $39.93

-3.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.02 $37.02

$40.63 $40.63

-8.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 $63.6

$83.6 $83.6

-23.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$39.50 $39.50

194.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 $1,223

$791 $791

54.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 $1,004

$801 $801

25.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,052 $2,052

$1,404 $1,404

46.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$1,635 $1,635

-0.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 $2,144

$1,470 $1,470

45.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 $2,192

$1,422 $1,422

54.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,480 $3,480

$2,430 $2,430

43.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.15

6.45

-4.65%

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

Last update for Johnson City, TN: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,223 in Johnson City, TN and $791 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johnson City, TN pays 43% 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: $50.0 in Johnson City, TN vs $49.00 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Groceries flip the comparison at $332 vs $407, 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

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

Cape Girardeau, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 43% higher in Johnson City, TN, 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: $1,223 in Johnson City, TN versus $791 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Johnson City, TN pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,089 per month in Johnson City, TN versus $1,929 in Cape Girardeau, MO – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,929 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,089 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, Johnson City, TN and Cape Girardeau, MO 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 8% less than in Johnson City, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.