Cost of living in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
3 counties across MO and IL. Population: 97,813.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
Average rent across the Cape Girardeau metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
The Cape Girardeau metro area includes 3 counties across MO and IL. Sorted by population.
- Cape Girardeau County MO$2,706/moPop82,180 Rent$794/mo Income$68,912/yrCape Girardeau County MO 82,180 $794/mo $68,912/yr $2,706/mo
- Bollinger County MO$2,584/moPop10,591 Rent$794/mo Income$57,286/yrBollinger County MO 10,591 $794/mo $57,286/yr $2,584/mo
- Alexander County IL$2,713/moPop5,042 Rent$794/mo Income$43,523/yrAlexander County IL 5,042 $794/mo $43,523/yr $2,713/mo
Compare counties in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Cape Girardeau Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Cape Girardeau metro area is approximately $2,693 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Cape Girardeau metro area is $794 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area?
Bollinger County, MO is the most affordable county in the Cape Girardeau metro area at approximately $2,584 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area?
Alexander County, IL is the most expensive county in the Cape Girardeau metro area at approximately $2,713 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Cape Girardeau Metro Area?
The Cape Girardeau metro area covers 3 counties across MO and IL. The five largest by population are Cape Girardeau County, Bollinger County, Alexander County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.