Cape Girardeau, MO at a glance
Median household income
$55,658$4,638 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Cape Girardeau, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Cape Girardeau, MO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Cape Girardeau, MO-IL MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $763 | $9,156 | $30,520 | 16.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $807 | $9,684 | $32,280 | 17.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $992 | $11,904 | $39,680 | 21.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,380 | $16,560 | $55,200 | 29.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,664 | $19,968 | $66,560 | 35.9% |
What a typical income covers in Cape Girardeau, MO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $55,658 a year ($4,638 a month before tax).
What $55,658 leaves after Missouri taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Missouri tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Missouri
Living in Cape Girardeau, MO: common questions
What is the median household income in Cape Girardeau, MO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Cape Girardeau, MO is $55,658 per year (approximately $4,638 per month).
What is the average rent in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $763 for a studio, $807 for one bedroom, $992 for two, $1,380 for three and $1,664 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Cape Girardeau, MO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 13.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 86.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Cape Girardeau, MO?
To keep a $992 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $39,680 a year, or $3,307 a month. That is 71% of what the typical household in Cape Girardeau, MO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Cape Girardeau, MO?
On the local median income of $55,658 ($4,638 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,319 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,391 for everything else and $928 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $992 takes 43% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Cape Girardeau, MO?
Homes in Missouri paid 16.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $146. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.