Cost of Living in Missouri (MO)
Compare costs across 7 Missouri cities. From home services to salaries, see how MO stacks up against the national average.
Is Missouri Affordable?
Missouri's average cost index is 85, which is below the national baseline of 100. St. Joseph is the most affordable tracked city in MO at index 78, while Kansas City is the most expensive at index 89.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 11 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Missouri is below the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
St. Joseph has a cost index of 78.
Kansas City has a cost index of 89.
Average median household income across 7 tracked MO cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Missouri
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 508K | 89 | $55K | large |
| St. Louis | 302K | 87 | $44K | large |
| Springfield | 169K | 82 | $37K | small |
| Columbia | 126K | 88 | $47K | small |
| Independence | 123K | 84 | $46K | mid |
| St. Joseph | 72K | 78 | $40K | small |
| Jefferson City | 43K | 84 | $49K | small |
Missouri State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Missouri.
State Planning Checklist
- Start with St. Joseph if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Missouri.
- Compare Kansas City against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.
Cost by Category Across Missouri
Business Startup Costs
Legal Services
Compare Cities Within Missouri
Explore Other States
Popular Missouri cost & affordability searches
- → Cost of living in Kansas City, MO
- → Cost of living in St. Louis, MO
- → Cost of living in Springfield, MO
- → Cost of living in Columbia, MO
- → Cost of living in Independence, MO
- → Cost of living in St. Joseph, MO
- → Average rent in Kansas City, MO
- → Average rent in St. Louis, MO
- → Average rent in Springfield, MO
- → Salary needed to live in Kansas City
- → Salary needed to live in St. Louis
- → Salary needed to live in Springfield
Frequently Asked Questions: Missouri Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Missouri?
Missouri's average cost-of-living index is 85, which is 15% below the U.S. baseline of 100. Across 7 tracked cities, costs span from index 78 in St. Joseph to 89 in Kansas City.
What is the cheapest city to live in Missouri?
St. Joseph is the most affordable tracked city in Missouri, with a cost index of 78 — roughly 22% below the national average.
What is the most expensive city in Missouri?
Kansas City is the most expensive tracked city in Missouri, at a cost index of 89. The gap between St. Joseph and Kansas City is 11 index points, so always budget at the city level.
What is the average household income in Missouri?
The average median household income across 7 tracked Missouri cities is about $45,381 per year.
Does Missouri have a state income tax?
Yes. Missouri levies a progressive state income tax at 0-4.95%, which affects your real take-home pay.
How much is sales tax in Missouri?
The combined sales tax in Missouri averages 8.29% — 4.225% at the state level plus 4.07% in average local tax.