County FMR · HUD FY2026
Cape Girardeau County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cape Girardeau County, MO - 16% below the US average.
- $807
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $992
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.6%
- YoY change
- -16%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Cape Girardeau is the 28th most expensive of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #28
- most expensive of 116 in Missouri (2BR)
- +4%
- vs the state average
- $32,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.6%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.5%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (33.3%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cape Girardeau County, MO. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri is $807 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $992/mo and a studio is $763/mo. This is 16% lower than the national average of $959 and 4% above the Missouri average of $777.
Rent increased1.6% from FY 2025 ($794), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $32,280/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Missouri. Population: 81,703. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.9%, Census ACS). That's faster than Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Cape Girardeau County
The Cape Girardeau County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Missouri's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 16% below the US average of $959 and 4% higher than the Missouri state average of $777. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$794 in FY 2025 to $807 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.6%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $807, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $32,280 per year (about $2,690/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $992 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 81,703 and a county median household income of $68,912, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $747 | $763 | +$16 (+2.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $794 | $807 | +$13 (+1.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $985 | $992 | +$7 (+0.7%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,380 | $1,380 | $0 (0.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,654 | $1,664 | +$10 (+0.6%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Cape Girardeau County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Cape Girardeau County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Cape Girardeau sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$992 higher than 44% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Cape Girardeau compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Missouri counties
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Charles
St. Charles County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis city
St. Louis city
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- Greene
Greene County
$883 1BR FMR / mo
- Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau County
$807 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Cape Girardeau is highlighted. Nearby Missouri counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($1,197), Clay County ($1,197), St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), St. Louis city ($995), Greene County ($883), Cape Girardeau County (this county) ($807).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $807/mo compares to Missouri salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $114,550 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,410 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,210 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $70,950 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,720 | 15.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,730 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,540 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,250 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,850 | 23.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,990 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,080 | 28.4% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,250 | 31% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,310 | 33% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,060 | 33.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cape Girardeau County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cape Girardeau (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 37.5% overall, from $587 to $807. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.3% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.6% | $763 | $807 | $992 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.0% | $747 | $794 | $985 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.1% | $685 | $742 | $933 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.3% | $597 | $680 | $871 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.6% | $536 | $622 | $807 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.3% | $537 | $612 | $807 |
| FY 2020 | $542 | $587 | $773 |
Part of the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Metro Area
Cape Girardeau County is a central county of the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Cape Girardeau County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Bollinger County ($807), Alexander County ($807), Cape Girardeau County (this county) ($807).
Nearby Counties in Missouri
Largest counties by population in Missouri
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Cape Girardeau County? ▼
How does Cape Girardeau County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Cape Girardeau County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Cape Girardeau County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Cape Girardeau County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Cape Girardeau County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cape Girardeau County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Cape Girardeau County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Cape Girardeau's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $807 implies about $32,280/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Cape Girardeau can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.