Cost of Living in Missouri: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Missouri? doxo breaks down key insights about Missouri’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Missouri pays $1,661 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Missouri’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Missouri ranks as the 38th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Missouri is ranked as the 38th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $19,932 per year, Missouri’s household expenses, on average, are 19% lower than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Missouri households spend 27% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Missouri is 81.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,661 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 81
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #38
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 27%
- Compared to the National Median: 19% lower
Missouri Household Expenses are 19% Lower Than the National Median
The average Missouri household pays $1,661 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Missouri is $74, compared to the national median of $74, making it the same as the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Missouri residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,284, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 28% less expensive.
Median Missouri Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Missouri Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Missouri Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,284 | $1,775 | 28% lower |
| Rent | $1,023 | $1,453 | 30% lower |
| Auto Loan | $436 | $470 | 7% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $100 | $105 | 5% lower |
| Health Insurance | $60 | $72 | 17% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $93 | $96 | 3% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $134 | $121 | 11% higher |
| Life Insurance | $52 | $60 | 13% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $74 | $74 | same |
| Total | $1,661 | $2,065 | 19% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Saint Albans has the highest cost of living in Missouri for household bills
Residents of Saint Albans pay the highest household bills in the state of Missouri, at a median of $3,858 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Saint Albans is 187, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 87% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Saint Albans make up 19% of the median annual household income of $250,000.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Missouri Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Saint Albans | $250,000 | $3,858 | 187 | 87% higher | 19% |
| 2 | Defiance | $177,583 | $2,584 | 125 | 25% higher | 17% |
| 3 | Wildwood | $155,169 | $2,408 | 117 | 17% higher | 19% |
| 4 | Chesterfield | $150,041 | $2,339 | 113 | 13% higher | 19% |
| 5 | Lake Saint Louis | $134,932 | $2,307 | 112 | 12% higher | 21% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Saverton has the lowest cost of living in Missouri for household bills
Saverton is the most affordable place in Missouri, with residents paying $811 on average for household bills, accounting for 15% of annual income of $63,462. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Saverton is 39, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 61% below the national median.
Clubb is the second most affordable city in Missouri, with residents paying $817 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Missouri are Lodi ($817), Metz ($823) and Cook Station ($828).
5 Most Affordable Missouri Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Saverton | $63,462 | $811 | 39 | 61% lower | 15% |
| 2 | Clubb | $67,804 | $817 | 40 | 60% lower | 14% |
| 3 | Lodi | $67,804 | $817 | 40 | 60% lower | 14% |
| 4 | Metz | $57,212 | $823 | 40 | 60% lower | 17% |
| 5 | Cook Station | $29,397 | $828 | 40 | 60% lower | 34% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Missouri with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.