City Comparison
Cape Girardeau vs Springfield
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cape Girardeau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cape Girardeau
Springfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cape Girardeau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
10% lower than in Springfield.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cape Girardeau's average rent is
11% lower than Springfield's.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Springfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $995 | $1,121 | -11% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $250 | -16% |
| Monthly Total | $1,870 | $2,071 | -10% |
| Cost Index | 86 | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cape Girardeau offers 3% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cape Girardeau 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 $67,000 in Springfield.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,680 | $55,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $67,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,907 idx | 61,111 idx |
| Household Income | $55,658 | $49,311 |
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Springfield has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Cape Girardeau.
Springfield 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 50.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Springfield is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Cape Girardeau.
From a growth perspective, Cape Girardeau is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Springfield has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,818 | 170,117 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.58% | 0.16% |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 33.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 3.60% |
| GDP | — | $29.3B |
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.
Springfield
Advantages
The cost of living in Springfield is 8-12% below the national average, with significant savings in housing, utilities, and groceries.
Housing is highly affordable, with a median home value of $208,223 in 2026, making homeownership more accessible.
The average commute time is short, at just 16 minutes, enhancing daily convenience for residents.
Springfield has a diversified and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare and manufacturing.
The city is a regional healthcare hub with highly-rated hospitals like Mercy Hospital Springfield, which received a Leapfrog A rating in 2024 and 2025.
Drawbacks
Healthcare costs in Springfield are reported to be 6-11.5% above the national average.
The median household income of $49,311 (2024) is lower than the national median.
Springfield received a low safety score of 26 out of 100 in Livability's 2026 ranking.
The city experiences varied and sometimes extreme weather, including muggy summers and cold, snowy winters.
While a regional hub, the city's population diversity is lower compared to many other U.S. 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
Springfield
#591Missouri, USA
43.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,121
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
90
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
50.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.16%
Unemployment
3.60%
Livability
78
Business
68
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