Loading
Assembling your view…
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.
281,754 residents · Missouri
Here's St Louis by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 77. Rent: $1,326/month. Income: $55,279/year. Home price: $179,917. Population: 281,754. The strongest category is Housing at 77; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,828 per year vs. the national median. The data here speaks for itself.
152,933 residents · Missouri
Kansas earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 83 cost index sits 28 points below the national baseline, and the $67,449 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $245,199 — $222,171 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 83, while Healthcare trails at 97.
120,922 residents · Missouri
So, Independence. Cost index of 77, rent at $1,313/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $59,480, which is below the national median. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
112,544 residents · Missouri
Springfield comes in at #4. Rent is $1,209 a month. Household income is $45,984. The cost of living index is 71. That's more or less in line with the region.
#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
| 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 |
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.
The #1 spot goes to St Louis, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,326/month — saving renters $6,828 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 77, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
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 |
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. 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.