City Comparison
Cape Girardeau vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cape Girardeau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cape Girardeau
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cape Girardeau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Cincinnati.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cape Girardeau's average rent is
29% lower than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $995 | $1,410 | -29% |
| Groceries | $380 | $493 | -23% |
| Utilities | $175 | $178 | -2% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $250 | -16% |
| Monthly Total | $1,870 | $2,451 | -24% |
| Cost Index | 86 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cincinnati offers 28% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cape Girardeau is estimated at
$48,000 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,680 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,907 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $55,658 | $52,909 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Cape Girardeau runs warmer on average — a 59.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Cape Girardeau comes out ahead with 252 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cape Girardeau sees 11.7 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 59.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 86.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 27.90°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 48.90 in | in |
| Snowfall | 11.70 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 252 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Cape Girardeau scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cape Girardeau leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cincinnati is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Cape Girardeau.
From a growth perspective, Cincinnati is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cincinnati has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,818 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.58% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cape Girardeau
Advantages
Average rent in Cape Girardeau is roughly 50% lower than the national average per Zillow data.
Home to Southeast Missouri State University, providing robust cultural, educational, and arts amenities.
Serves as a major regional healthcare nexus with advanced medical facilities like Saint Francis and SoutheastHEALTH.
Short average commute times of approximately 21 minutes make daily travel efficient.
Scenic riverfront location along the Mississippi River featuring historic parks and a revitalized downtown.
Drawbacks
Local mean wages and median household incomes track below national averages per Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
High level of car dependency with limited municipal public transit coverage.
Poverty rates can skew higher in specific core urban census tracts compared to surrounding county areas.
Susceptible to humid continental weather extremes with hot summers and variable winter conditions.
Limited high-tech and specialized corporate headquarters sector compared to larger state metros.
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cape Girardeau
#308Missouri, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$995
Avg Salary
$56,680
Cost Index
86
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
252/yr
Avg Temp
59.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.58%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
75
Business
67
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
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