Joplin, MO vs Cape Girardeau, MO: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Cape Girardeau, MO and Joplin, MO are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Joplin works out to about $75,300 in Cape Girardeau, before taxes.
- Housing is 4.5% higher in Cape Girardeau, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,013 a month in Cape Girardeau and $1,242 in Joplin, $2,748 a year less in Cape Girardeau (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $226,000 in Cape Girardeau and $227,000 in Joplin.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.9%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Joplin and Cape Girardeau
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.7 | 86.1 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 94.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 54.0 | 56.4 |
| Utilities | 85.9 | 85.6 |
| Other services | 93.1 | 93.1 |
| Category | Joplin | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau vs Joplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.7 | 86.1 | +0.4% |
| Goods | 94.2 | 94.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 54.0 | 56.4 | +4.5% |
| Utilities | 85.9 | 85.6 | −0.3% |
| Other services | 93.1 | 93.1 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,242 | $1,013 | −18.4% |
| Typical home value | $227,000 | $226,000 | −0.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Joplin | $75,000 | $75,300 | +0.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Joplin and Cape Girardeau has narrowed since 2008: 8.8 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.0 | 81.3 |
| 2009 | 89.3 | 83.0 |
| 2010 | 89.3 | 87.8 |
| 2011 | 89.6 | 87.0 |
| 2012 | 90.0 | 88.5 |
| 2013 | 90.1 | 89.4 |
| 2014 | 89.9 | 88.1 |
| 2015 | 89.4 | 86.3 |
| 2016 | 88.4 | 86.1 |
| 2017 | 87.4 | 85.2 |
| 2018 | 87.6 | 87.8 |
| 2019 | 89.2 | 90.0 |
| 2020 | 87.9 | 88.9 |
| 2021 | 87.8 | 88.5 |
| 2022 | 84.7 | 86.2 |
| 2023 | 85.2 | 86.1 |
| 2024 | 85.7 | 86.1 |
Goods
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 76.6 |
| 2009 | 96.3 | 85.2 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 94.0 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 94.5 |
| 2012 | 97.0 | 95.5 |
| 2013 | 96.8 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 98.0 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 97.6 | 96.1 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 95.4 | 93.8 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 94.0 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 94.2 | 94.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60.9 | 63.7 |
| 2009 | 58.8 | 56.7 |
| 2010 | 57.6 | 63.1 |
| 2011 | 62.7 | 63.7 |
| 2012 | 61.4 | 65.0 |
| 2013 | 62.0 | 70.7 |
| 2014 | 61.6 | 63.9 |
| 2015 | 63.6 | 60.1 |
| 2016 | 57.2 | 63.8 |
| 2017 | 57.0 | 62.5 |
| 2018 | 55.3 | 59.6 |
| 2019 | 59.1 | 61.9 |
| 2020 | 56.1 | 61.0 |
| 2021 | 56.9 | 59.8 |
| 2022 | 51.9 | 58.0 |
| 2023 | 50.5 | 52.2 |
| 2024 | 54.0 | 56.4 |
Utilities
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.0 | 75.5 |
| 2009 | 86.4 | 77.9 |
| 2010 | 85.6 | 83.2 |
| 2011 | 89.1 | 80.0 |
| 2012 | 89.3 | 80.6 |
| 2013 | 90.4 | 82.3 |
| 2014 | 84.1 | 81.1 |
| 2015 | 86.7 | 84.3 |
| 2016 | 84.1 | 85.6 |
| 2017 | 89.9 | 86.2 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 93.3 |
| 2019 | 93.4 | 93.6 |
| 2020 | 93.7 | 93.9 |
| 2021 | 91.3 | 91.9 |
| 2022 | 90.9 | 90.4 |
| 2023 | 87.4 | 87.7 |
| 2024 | 85.9 | 85.6 |
Other services
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 93.6 |
| 2009 | 98.6 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 94.3 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 91.9 |
| 2012 | 96.5 | 94.2 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 93.6 |
| 2014 | 96.1 | 93.6 |
| 2015 | 94.3 | 90.3 |
| 2016 | 95.5 | 89.2 |
| 2017 | 94.3 | 88.5 |
| 2018 | 96.4 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2020 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 91.9 | 91.9 |
| 2023 | 92.4 | 92.4 |
| 2024 | 93.1 | 93.1 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,013 in Cape Girardeau vs $1,242 in Joplin
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $951 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $991 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,008 | $796 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,011 | $840 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,032 | $855 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,062 | $869 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,067 | $855 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,091 | $892 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,104 | $901 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,093 | $913 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,116 | $918 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,124 | $941 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,126 | $937 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,145 | $961 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,182 | $976 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,197 | $978 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,222 | $987 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,229 | $986 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,248 | $1,009 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,242 | $1,013 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $226,000 in Cape Girardeau vs $227,000 in Joplin
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Joplin, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Joplin, MO | Cape Girardeau, MO | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $108K | $128K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $111K | $131K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $113K | $133K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $114K | $134K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $116K | $135K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $117K | $136K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $117K | $137K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $119K | $138K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $119K | $140K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $119K | $140K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $122K | $141K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $124K | $143K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $126K | $144K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $128K | $145K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $128K | $147K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $130K | $147K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $134K | $148K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $138K | $150K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $140K | $149K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $143K | $151K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $144K | $154K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $145K | $155K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $149K | $159K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $155K | $165K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $161K | $170K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $168K | $177K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $171K | $180K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $177K | $185K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $188K | $194K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $197K | $202K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $199K | $201K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $199K | $200K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $200K | $196K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $205K | $202K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $207K | $205K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $208K | $205K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $211K | $205K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $213K | $206K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $215K | $208K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $219K | $211K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $222K | $212K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $221K | $213K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $221K | $216K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $222K | $218K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $224K | $221K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $224K | $222K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $227K | $226K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.