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: $3,565 in Seattle, WA versus $1,929 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,605 in Seattle, WA versus $2,950 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,645 in Seattle, WA versus $3,970 in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 85% more expensive than in Cape Girardeau, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 167% above, Cape Girardeau, MO 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.79 $24.79

$15.30 $15.30

62.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$49.41 $49.41

140.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.15 $14.15

$6.83 $6.83

107.17%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.24 $5.24

8.97%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.21 $2.21

32.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.73 $1.73

45.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.89 $7.89

$3.28 $3.28

140.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.48 $4.48

79.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$0.71 $0.71

91.55%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.25 $2.25

125.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.33 $3.33

57.66%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$4.09 $4.09

68.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.95 $24.95

$10.94 $10.94

128.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.75 $15.75

$8.88 $8.88

77.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.72 $20.72

$11.13 $11.13

86.16%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$8.94 $8.94

-30.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.79 $1.79

55.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.54 $7.54

-26.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$8.69 $8.69

-26.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.21 $3.21

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$6.72 $6.72

-42.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.02 $3.02

-10.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.21 $2.21

14.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.37 $11.37

$7.52 $7.52

51.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.96 $14.96

4.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.71 $1.71

67.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.96 $3.96

7.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.03 $2.03

33.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.49 $3.49

-26.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.51 $1.51

7.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$29.35 $29.35

1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.82 $0.82

39.02%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$27.2K $27.2K

20.53%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$20.0K $20.0K

32.30%

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

$264 $264

$148 $148

78.42%

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

$61.6 $61.6

$44.49 $44.49

38.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 $75.5

$78.6 $78.6

-4.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.0 $78.0

$20.18 $20.18

286.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.28 $40.28

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$13.47 $13.47

19.60%

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

$2,212 $2,212

$732 $732

202.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.0K $29.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

23.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.3 $69.3

$39.93 $39.93

73.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$40.63 $40.63

32.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$83.6 $83.6

42.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$39.50 $39.50

258.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,357 $2,357

$791 $791

198.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,834 $1,834

$801 $801

128.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,686 $4,686

$1,404 $1,404

233.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,571 $3,571

$1,635 $1,635

118.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,539 $7,539

$1,470 $1,470

413.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,046 $5,046

$1,422 $1,422

254.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$2,430 $2,430

166.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 12, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,357 in Seattle, WA and $791 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 166% 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: $119 in Seattle, WA vs $49.00 in Cape Girardeau, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $543 vs $407 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 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 166% 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: $2,357 in Seattle, WA versus $791 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,565 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,929 in Cape Girardeau, MO – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,929 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,565 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 85% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.