Cape Girardeau

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Cape Girardeau, MO

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Bask in the country atmosphere and big-city amenities of southeastern Missouri

Suburban Scenic Riverside Welcoming College Town Historic Active Vibrant Accessible

Cape Girardeau, also known as “Cape,” is the largest city in southeastern Missouri, stretching along the banks of the Mississippi River and the Missouri-Illinois border. Cape offers residents a country atmosphere with a taste of big-city living, from the national retailers at West Park Mall and the local shops in the quaint downtown area to the bustling Isle Casino Cape Girardeau and the many peaceful parks and green spaces in town.

Home to Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau exudes the vibrancy of a college town, with a bevy of shops, restaurants, bars, coffee houses, and entertainment venues. Destinations like Saint Louis and Memphis are about a two-hour drive away from Cape Girardeau as well. Convenience to I-55 makes getting around from Cape Girardeau simple.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Cape Girardeau, MO is $648 for a studio, $592 for one bedroom, $719 for two bedrooms, and $512 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cape Girardeau has increased by 1.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$592/month
498 Sq Ft
House
$1,913/month
1,020 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Cape Girardeau, MO

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Cape Girardeau, MO is 0.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Cape Girardeau is 11.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $512 - $719. You can expect to pay 9.4% more for groceries, 3.1% less for utilities, and 15.5% more for transportation.

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Transportation

36

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

35

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Blanchard Elementary

Public

Grades PK-4

296 Students

9
out of 10

Central Middle

Public

Grades 5-6

604 Students

6
out of 10

Alma Schrader Elementary

Public

Grades K-4

351 Students

4
out of 10

Nell Holcomb Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

244 Students

3
out of 10

Franklin Elementary

Public

Grades PK-4

217 Students

3
out of 10

Central Jr. High

Public

Grades 7-8

618 Students

3
out of 10

Nell Holcomb Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

244 Students

3
out of 10

Parkview School

Public

Grades K-12

28 Students

Rating Unavailable

Central High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,341 Students

4
out of 10

Parkview School

Public

Grades K-12

28 Students

Rating Unavailable

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center
  • St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway

Commuter Rail

Top Apartments in Cape Girardeau

Houses for Rent in Cape Girardeau

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.