🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,498 in Saint-Etienne versus $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,331 in Saint-Etienne versus $3,098 in Cape Girardeau, MO.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,164 in Saint-Etienne versus $4,210 in Cape Girardeau, MO.
🌍Living in Saint-Etienne costs roughly 25% less than in Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint-Etienne9% above, Cape Girardeau, MO44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.52€15.10
$17.52$17.52
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.3€51.1
$56.6$56.6
4.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.82€11.91
$7.06$7.06
95.75%
Cappuccino
$2.19€1.89
$6.48$6.48
-66.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.08
$2.80$2.80
27.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.51
$1.97$1.97
-11.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.18€4.47
$2.91$2.91
78.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86€5.05
$7.85$7.85
-25.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.20
$1.10$1.10
27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19€1.03
$2.24$2.24
-46.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$4.02$4.02
-44.53%
Eggs
$3.10€2.67
$2.97$2.97
4.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.00€15.51
$13.18$13.18
36.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.82€10.19
$14.38$14.38
-17.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.98€14.64
$18.32$18.32
-7.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.59€3.10
$3.25$3.25
10.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76€2.38
$1.46$1.46
89.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$4.05$4.05
-36.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.98€2.57
$4.86$4.86
-38.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$2.72$2.72
-38.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$3.03$3.03
-41.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.03
$2.29$2.29
-48.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.16
$2.30$2.30
-41.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.61€10.87
$7.33$7.33
72.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29€8.87
$14.83$14.83
-30.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52€3.03
$1.68$1.68
109.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.09
$4.64$4.64
-22.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91€1.65
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.08€34.55
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.99€2.57
$5.08$5.08
-41.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.60$1.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$20.84$20.84
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$0.78$0.78
167.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K€17.8K
$37.9K$37.9K
-45.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$24.8K$24.8K
31.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174€150
$198$198
-11.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.17€26.01
$42.07$42.07
-28.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.07€17.30
$77.6$77.6
-74.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.85€27.45
$20.11$20.11
58.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07€6.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.32€8.90
$15.13$15.13
-31.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,068€921
$1,457$1,457
-26.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K€14.5K
$30.1K$30.1K
-44.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.1€63.0
$44.61$44.61
63.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.41€27.93
$39.71$39.71
-18.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€94.1
$83.9$83.9
30.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156€134
$39.66$39.66
292.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552€476
$792$792
-30.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373€321
$857$857
-56.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919€792
$1,610$1,610
-42.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$760€655
$1,644$1,644
-53.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,795€1,547
$1,426$1,426
25.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,659€1,430
$1,446$1,446
14.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Etienne
Cape Girardeau, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,306€1,988
$2,463$2,463
-6.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
6.07
-39.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint-Etienne: September 6, 2026
Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $552 in Saint-Etienne and $792 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cape Girardeau, MO pays 7% 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: $59.0 in Saint-Etienne vs $57.0 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Groceries flip the comparison at $346 vs $392, with Saint-Etienne 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
Saint-Etienne vs Cape Girardeau, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Girardeau, MO cheaper than Saint-Etienne?
Saint-Etienne is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Saint-Etienne or Cape Girardeau, MO?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Cape Girardeau, MO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Saint-Etienne and Cape Girardeau, MO?
Rent for a central apartment: $552 in Saint-Etienne versus $792 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Saint-Etienne and in Cape Girardeau, MO?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% 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 Saint-Etienne and in Cape Girardeau, MO?
All in, you'll spend $1,498 per month in Saint-Etienne versus $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Saint-Etienne or in Cape Girardeau, MO?
At $1,498 in Saint-Etienne versus $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Saint-Etienne but tight or insufficient in Cape Girardeau, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Saint-Etienne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Saint-Etienne or in Cape Girardeau, MO?
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.
Which city is safer, Saint-Etienne or Cape Girardeau, MO?
Safety-wise, Saint-Etienne 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Saint-Etienne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Cape Girardeau, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint-Etienne vs other spots: cost of living compared