What it actually costs to live in Missouri.
Missouri’s cost-of-living index sits at 90 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #40 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Missouri costs about 10% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $295,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $992/mo.
Missouri cost components
| Component | Missouri | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 90 | 100 |
| Median home price | $295,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $992/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $183/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Missouri compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Missouri ranks #40 for cost. That places Missouri in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Missouri metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. St. Louis has very different housing dynamics than smaller Missouri metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- St. LouisCOL 86 · home $205,000rent $900/mo →
- Kansas CityCOL 92 · home $270,000rent $1,146/mo →
- SpringfieldCOL 83 · home $185,000rent $875/mo →
- ColumbiaCOL 86 · home $235,000rent $900/mo →
- IndependenceCOL 86 · home $195,000rent $950/mo →
More Missouri metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Missouri cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Missouri?
Missouri's MERIC cost-of-living index is 90 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Missouri costs about 10% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Missouri?
Missouri's state-level median home price is approximately $295,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Missouri?
Missouri's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $992/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Missouri-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Missouri COL index ~88; Kansas City and St. Louis metros offer big-city amenities at among the lowest housing costs of any major US metro (median home ~$240k).
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.