From metropolitan centers like St. Louis to small towns with a lot of charm, Missouri is a state with something for everyone, including a low cost of living nearly everywhere you might want to settle.

Jerry

, the

licensed broker

for

home insurance

and more, has your breakdown of the cost of living in Missouri for anyone curious. Let’s get started.

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How high is the cost of living in Missouri?

Missouri is tied with

West Virginia

as the 11th least-expensive state to live in with a cost of living index of 90.5.

The cost of living index (COLI) takes into account things like housing costs, food prices, and even gas prices to determine how expensive it is to live in each state.

The average cost of living for the US is an even 100, so any number higher than 100 equals a higher-than-average cost of living.

With Missouri’s score of 90.5, that means the Show-Me State has cheaper living than the US average. By comparison,

Hawaii

(the most expensive state) has a cost of living index score of more than double that at 192.9.

Let’s break down the costs of living in Missouri even more by looking at food, housing, and transportation costs.

Food: $285 to $839 per month

Everyone has to eat, so the cost of your grocery bills can be a big factor for anyone looking to relocate.

MIT’s

Living Wage Calculator

estimates that the cost of food in Missouri ranges from $3,423 to $10,068 per year, depending on things like family size and location. A single adult with no children will spend an average of $285 a month on groceries, while a family of four can rack up $839 a month.

By comparison, US News says the average grocery bill for a family of 4 in the US is around $1,200 a month, so Missouri is well below the national average.

Keep in mind those estimates only include groceries. Things like fast food or coffee runs aren’t included.

Healthcare: $222 to $761 per month

Healthcare costs can be even more variable than grocery prices when you factor in things like age, family size, and pre-existing health conditions.

While the national average cost of healthcare is around $995 per month, a single adult in Missouri averages around $222 a month in healthcare costs. A family of four can expect to pay more—around $761 a month.

While healthcare costs in Missouri are cheaper than the US average, factors like healthcare quality and access (especially in rural parts of the state) should be taken into consideration.

Housing: $696 to $1,331 per month

Housing costs definitely play a role in Missouri’s low overall cost of living. The typical home value in 2022 was only $194,000.

So what does that look like for your monthly housing budget? It all depends on what type of home you have:

Median monthly mortgage payment: $1,271

Average studio rent: $637

Average one-bedroom rent: $696

Average two-bedroom rent: $871

Average three-bedroom rent: $1,153

Average four-bedroom rent: $1,331

Keep in mind these are state averages. Larger cities like St. Louis or Kansas City have higher average monthly rents (a studio apartment in St. Louis can go for $1,000 a month or more!), while more rural areas have cheaper monthly rent costs.

Regardless of where you live in Missouri, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll pay less for housing than the national average. The typical home value in the US is currently $337,560, while the average rent is $1,904 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Transportation: $442 to $1,205 per month

The cost of getting around in Missouri depends on a lot of factors, like gas prices, car insurance rates, and access to public transportation.

Single adults in Missouri pay around $442 a month in transportation costs, while a family of four can expect to pay $1,205 or more a month.

Here are some numbers to keep in mind:

Average annual cost of car insurance in Missouri: $2,229 to $2,740 (

liability

only vs.

collision and comprehensive coverage

added)

Average

commute time

in Missouri: 23.6 minutes one way

Average cost of a gallon of gas, June 2022: $3.50

MORE:

Missouri auto insurance laws and minimum requirements

How much you need to live comfortably in Missouri: $33,890 to $77,162 per year

Based on the costs of living mentioned above, a single adult in Missouri needs to make $33,890 a year, or $16.29/hour, to make what’s considered a “living wage.” For a family of four, the annual salary needs to be $77,162 per year, or $37.10/hour.

However, these salary estimates only take into account the bare minimum—basically paying your bills with no room for extras.

Of course, everyone finds that non-essentials make life that much more fun. Here’s what some common splurges cost in Missouri.

Average cost of a date: $71.08 (US average: $116)

Average cost of a night at the movies: $7.75/ticket (US average: $10.61)

Average cost of a Big Mac: $3.99 (US average: $3.99)

Average sales tax: 4.225%(US average: 5.09%)

Different people and families have unique salary requirements for their definition of “living comfortably.” While some can live very well on $33,890, others may want more wiggle room in their budgets. The above salaries take into account the costs of basic needs.

The Missouri cities with the lowest cost of living

Even though Missouri is one of the cheapest states to live in, some cities fall even farther below the state cost of living index. Here’s a list of the least expensive places to live in Missouri:

Chillicothe

(COLI: 82): Situated in north-central Missouri, Chillicothe is a small town with a big claim to fame—it’s where sliced bread was invented! And the cheap home prices are almost the best thing since sliced bread, too.

Trenton

(COLI: 82): As if the cheap living prices weren’t enough, Trenton is home to North Central Missouri college, one of the most affordable higher education options in the state with tuition under $5,000!

Kennett

(COLI: 83): The largest city in the Bootheel of Missouri, Kennett is a largely agricultural area perfect for anyone that loves wide open spaces (and plenty of space from neighbors!).

Richmond

(COLI: 84): Located about 40 miles east of Kansas City, Richmond has some of the cheapest housing prices in the nation. Plus with over 60 acres of public parks, you’ll have plenty of natural beauty to escape to.

Pevely

(COLI: 87): Just 30 miles south of St. Louis, Pevely offers small-town prices just a short drive from big-city fun and dining.

If you’re wanting to move somewhere in Missouri and truly get the best bang for your buck, keep these cities in mind.

MORE: Homeowners insurance in Missouri

How to easily find home and car insurance in Missouri

Missouri’s cost of living is well below the national average, but that doesn’t mean your money-saving stops there.

We all need to pay for insurance—so why pay more than you have to? With

Jerry

, you can find the best deals on home,

renters

, and

auto insurance

available in your area.

Just download the Jerry app, answer a few questions, then sit back while customized insurance quotes are delivered right to your device.

Once you’re ready to switch, Jerry’s customer support team will walk you through the whole process of getting your old policy canceled and your new one set up. Best of all, Jerry users save an average of $800 a year on car insurance payments alone.

“
Jerry
was wonderful! I used it for my auto and renters policies. I trusted it so much that I signed up my homeowners insurance under Jerry as well. All of the agents are amazingly nice and knowledgeable.” —Mary Y.

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