Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Cape Girardeau, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Cape Girardeau, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,098 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,210 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 96% more expensive than in Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Cape Girardeau, MO 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$17.52 $17.52

44.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$56.6 $56.6

78.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$7.06 $7.06

109.63%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$6.48 $6.48

2.31%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.80 $2.80

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.97 $1.97

50.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$2.91 $2.91

172.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.85 $7.85

0.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.10 $1.10

10.91%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.24 $2.24

129.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.02 $4.02

53.23%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.97 $2.97

71.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$13.18 $13.18

61.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$14.38 $14.38

28.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$18.32 $18.32

25.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$3.25 $3.25

85.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.46 $1.46

28.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.05 $4.05

28.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.86 $4.86

31.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.72 $2.72

38.97%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.03 $3.03

8.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.29 $2.29

25.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.30 $2.30

15.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$7.33 $7.33

89.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.83 $14.83

1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.68 $1.68

148.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.64 $4.64

21.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$5.08 $5.08

-49.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.60 $1.60

3.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$20.84 $20.84

41.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.78 $0.78

87.18%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.9K $37.9K

-4.92%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$24.8K $24.8K

2.47%

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

$306 $306

$198 $198

54.94%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$42.07 $42.07

66.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$77.6 $77.6

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$20.11 $20.11

297.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$15.13 $15.13

17.98%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$1,457 $1,457

107.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$30.1K $30.1K

3.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$44.61 $44.61

71.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.71 $39.71

35.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$83.9 $83.9

49.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$39.66 $39.66

309.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$792 $792

210.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$857 $857

131.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$1,610 $1,610

203.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,644 $1,644

120.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$1,426 $1,426

417.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$1,446 $1,446

246.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$2,463 $2,463

150.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.07

6.26%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $792 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 150% 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $57.0 in Cape Girardeau, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $392 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

Seattle, WA 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, Getting Around. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 150% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $792 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,986 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cape Girardeau, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. 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 Seattle, WA, 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 96% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.