United States
Cost of living in Missouri
Cost of living in Missouri comes in at 90.8, placing it 9 percent below the US average of 100 and 39th out of 51 jurisdictions. Missouri has the second-lowest price level of the 13 states in this group, exceeded only by Tennessee (91.9) from above on the national scale. The income tax is progressive for 2025, with the first $1,313 of taxable income exempt, a rate of 4.7 percent on the top bracket above $9,191, and a generous single standard deduction of $15,750 that conforms to the federal figure. The state sales tax base rate is 4.225 percent, though local additions, particularly in St. Louis and Kansas City, raise effective rates substantially. For households on mid-range incomes, Missouri's price level combined with a moderate income tax and low base sales tax produces one of the strongest affordability profiles in the Midwest.
Price level
90.8
US = 100
National rank
39th
of 51, dearest first
Income tax
4.7%
top rate
Sales tax
4.225%
state base rate
What your salary is worth in Missouri
Because prices here sit at 90.8 against the national 100, the same paycheck stretches differently than it would elsewhere. These figures hold buying power constant: the salary listed is what you would need in Missouri to live as you would on the reference amount in another place.
| Same lifestyle as | $60,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| US average | $54,480 | $90,800 |
| California (dearest) | $49,214 | $82,023 |
| Arkansas (cheapest) | $62,693 | $104,488 |
Compare Missouri with anywhere in the US
To live the same in California you need
$85,341
to match $70,000 in Missouri
Price level, US = 100
The equivalent salary keeps your purchasing power constant: it is your pay scaled by the ratio of the two price levels. Regional Price Parities measure what a fixed basket of goods and services costs locally. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.
Missouri in context
Missouri's price advantage is distributed broadly across its geography. Kansas City and St. Louis, the two major metros, both offer substantially lower housing costs than comparable cities in most other regions, with median sale prices in many neighborhoods running 30 to 50 percent below national medians. Smaller cities such as Springfield, Columbia, and Cape Girardeau are cheaper still. The progressive income tax with a top rate of 4.7 percent is modest relative to Wisconsin's 7.65 percent or Minnesota's 9.85 percent, giving Missouri a meaningful edge for earners in the $80,000 to $200,000 range. Local sales taxes in St. Louis city and county and the Kansas City metro can push effective rates to 9 percent or more, adding back some consumption cost. Retirees, young families, and remote workers seeking maximum purchasing power in a state with two well-served major metros consistently find Missouri among the top five states for overall cost efficiency in the central US.
The closest state above Missouri on price is Tennessee at 91.9. Just below sits Kentucky at 90.2.
Frequently asked questions
Is Missouri expensive to live in?
Missouri sits at a price level of 90.8 where the US average is 100, so a typical basket of goods and services costs about 9% less than the national norm. That ranks it 39th most expensive of 51 states. Housing is usually the largest single driver of the gap.
What salary do you need in Missouri?
To match the buying power of $60,000 earned at the US average, you would need about $54,480 in Missouri. The figure scales with the price level: a place dearer than average needs more, a cheaper one needs less. Your own number also depends on housing choice and household size.
How much tax does Missouri charge?
Missouri applies a top state income-tax rate of 4.7% and a base state sales tax of 4.225%. Progressive for 2025; first $1,313 of taxable income is exempt (0%), top rate 4.7% above $9,191. Single standard deduction $15,750 (conforms to federal). State sales tax 4.225%; local taxes add substantially more. Local jurisdictions can add their own sales tax on top.
Cost of living in other states
Price levels are Regional Price Parities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (SARPP, MARPP), 2024 (public domain). State tax figures are the latest published rates from state revenue departments. All figures are estimates for general comparison and not financial advice; your own costs depend on housing, household size and lifestyle.