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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Missouri's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: St Louis at index 77, where median rent of $1,326/month saves renters $6,828/year versus the national median.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Louis | 77 | $1,326 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | 77 | $1,313 | Details |
| 3 | Kansas | 83 | $1,418 | Details |
| 4 | Springfield | 71 | $1,209 | Details |
#1 Ranked: St Louis — cost index 77, rent $1,326/mo, income $55,279
St Louis rent up 3% over the past year
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
Dollar for dollar, few states match Missouri's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: St Louis at index 77, where median rent of $1,326/month saves renters $6,828/year versus the national median.
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. 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.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In St Louis, the healthcare index sits at 95 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
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 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
3Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
4Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $41,182 |
281,754 residents · Missouri
The numbers for St Louis are straightforward: 77 on the cost index, $1,326/month rent, $55,279 income. And from what we can tell, not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That's a reasonable number.
120,922 residents · Missouri
Independence earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 77 cost index sits 34 points below the national baseline, and the $59,480 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $203,383 — $263,987 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 77, while Healthcare trails at 95.
152,933 residents · Missouri
What does daily life actually cost in Kansas? Start with the 25% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 83) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 97) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $67,449 and homes at $245,199 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons.
112,544 residents · Missouri
A closer look at Springfield: the cost index of 71 breaks down to a Housing index of 71 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 94 (weakest). And generally speaking, median rent is $1,209/month — 36% below the national median — while household income sits at $45,984, meaning locals spend about 32% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
We divide median home price by median household income for each city in Missouri. A ratio of 3× means a home costs 3 years of gross income — generally considered affordable. Ratios above 5× signal a stretched market. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
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.