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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Missouri beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. St Louis stands out at 77 on the index, with rent of $1,326/month and household income of $55,279. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Louis | 77 | $1,326 | Details |
| 2 | Kansas | 83 | $1,418 | Details |
| 3 | Independence | 77 | $1,313 | Details |
| 4 | Springfield | 71 | $1,209 | Details |
#1 Ranked: St Louis — cost index 77, rent $1,326/mo, income $55,279
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Missouri beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. St Louis stands out at 77 on the index, with rent of $1,326/month and household income of $55,279. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
What does daily life actually cost in St Louis? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 77) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $55,279 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — and homes at $179,917 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (4.8% in St Louis), combined state+local sales tax (8.335%), and effective property tax (0.88%). At 4.8% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 St Louis is $54,110/year.
Frankly, the other side of the coin: Here's the state-level backdrop: Missouri averages a 77 cost index, $1,317/mo — we had to double-check this one — rent, and $57,048 income across 4 cities. That's $578 less than the national rent average. Two major metros with small-city price tags — and that context shapes every city in this ranking (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
Bottom line: St Louis leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
2Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
3Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
4Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
281,754 residents · Missouri
Real talk: Dive into St Louis's numbers: cost index 77 (34 points below national average), rent $1,326/month, income $55,279, and a home price of $179,917. And in practical terms, the city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 77, while Healthcare runs 95. With 281,754 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
152,933 residents · Missouri
The #2 spot goes to Kansas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,418/month — saving renters $5,724 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 83, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 97. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
120,922 residents · Missouri
Independence comes in at #3. Rent is $1,313 a month. Household income is $59,480. The cost of living index is 77. Nothing too surprising there.
112,544 residents · Missouri
Springfield earns its position at #4 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 71 cost index sits 40 points below the national baseline, and the $45,984 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $238,992 — $228,378 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 71, while Healthcare trails at 94.
St Louis ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 77 and median income of $55,279.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
St Louis (ranked #1) has a cost index of 77 and rent of $1,326/mo, while Springfield (ranked #4) has a cost index of 71 and rent of $1,209/mo — a 6-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in St Louis is $1,326/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $569 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in St Louis is $179,917, which is 3.3× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Missouri has a 4.8% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.335%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.88%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.