Cape Girardeau

The Bill Emerson Memorial bridge stretches over the Mississippi River.
Southeast Missouri State University is a prominent institution in Cape Girardeau.
Southeast Missouri State University is a prominent institution in Cape Girardeau.
Bungalows and small cottages line streets in Cape Girardeau.
Restaurants and stores are located in historic buildings in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau, MO Area Guide

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.

Explore the City

Southeast Missouri State University is a prominent institution in Cape Girardeau.

Bungalows and small cottages line streets in Cape Girardeau.

Restaurants and stores are located in historic buildings in Cape Girardeau.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Cape Girardeau, MO is $656 for a studio, $581 for one bedroom, $808 for two bedrooms, and $1,062 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cape Girardeau has decreased by -2.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$581/month
498 Sq Ft
House
$1,488/month
931 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Cape Girardeau, MO

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Cape Girardeau, MO is 5.4% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Cape Girardeau is 18.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $581 - $1,062. You can expect to pay 5.2% more for groceries, 4.6% less for utilities, and 7.4% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Cape Girardeau, MO is for everyday living.

Car-Dependent

36 / 100

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

Somewhat Bikeable

35 / 100

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

Franklin Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Blanchard Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Central Middle

Public

Grades K-5

Clippard Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Alma Schrader Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Central Jr. High

Public

Grades 6-8

Nell Holcomb Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

Parkview School

Public

Grades K-12

Central High

Public

Grades 9-12

Parkview School

Public

Grades K-12

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 2026.