Cost of Living in Missouri: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024
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 $1,835 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Phone, 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 43rd most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Missouri is ranked as the 43rd most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills, making it the least expensive state for these expenses.
At $22,018 per year, Missouri’s household expenses, on average, are 14% lower than the US average of $25,513.
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 32% 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 average and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national average. The COBI for Missouri is 86.
- Average Bill Cost per Household: $1,835 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 86
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #43
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 32%
- Compared to the National Average: 14% lower
Missouri Household Expenses are 14% Lower Than the National Average
The average Missouri household pays $1,835 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 average monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Missouri is $93, compared to the national average of $85, making it 10% higher than average.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Missouri residents. The average monthly mortgage payment is $1,599, compared to the national average of $1,402, making it 13% more expensive.
Average Missouri Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Average Missouri Monthly Bill | National Average Monthly Bill | Missouri Percent +/- National Average |
| Mortgage | $1,255 | $1,402 | 10% lower |
| Rent | $978 | $1,300 | 25% lower |
| Auto Loan | $429 | $496 | 14% lower |
| Utilities | $307 | $362 | 15% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $175 | $209 | 16% lower |
| Health Insurance | $112 | $114 | 2% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $112 | $121 | 7% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $114 | $122 | 4% lower |
| Life Insurance | $73 | $87 | 16% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $93 | $85 | 10% higher |
| Total | $1,835 | $2,126 | 14% lower |
Wildwood has the highest cost of living in Missouri for household bills
Residents of Wildwood pay the highest household bills in the state of Missouri, at an average of $2,800 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Wildwood is 132, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 32% higher than the national average.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Wildwood makeup 24% of the average annual household income of $147,446.
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.
10 Most Expensive Missouri Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Wildwood | $147,446 | $2,800 | 132 | 32% higher | 23% |
| 2 | Eureka | $127,689 | $2,707 | 127 | 27% higher | 25% |
| 3 | Lees Summit | $104,525 | $2,516 | 118 | 18% higher | 29% |
| 4 | Lake Saint Louis | $131,657 | $2,460 | 116 | 16% higher | 22% |
| 5 | Chesterfield | $145,797 | $2,411 | 113 | 13% higher | 20% |
| 6 | Grain Valley | $88,169 | $2,283 | 107 | 7% higher | 31% |
| 7 | Platte City | $91,817 | $2,224 | 105 | 5% higher | 29% |
| 8 | Kearney | $107,656 | $2,194 | 103 | 3% higher | 24% |
| 9 | Saint Charles | $93,829 | $2,175 | 102 | 2% higher | 28% |
| 10 | Ballwin | $113,878 | $2,110 | 99 | 1% lower | 22% |
Warsaw has the lowest cost of living in Missouri for household bills
Out of 99 cities, Warsaw is the most affordable place in Missouri, with residents paying $1,742 on average for household bills, accounting for 29% of annual income of $72,407. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Warsaw is 82, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 18% below the national average.
Chillicothe is the second most affordable city in Missouri, with residents paying $1,421 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 10 least expensive cities in Missouri are Salem ($1,451), Lebanon ($1,455) and Nevada ($1,476).
10 Most Affordable Missouri Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 90 | Sedalia | $56,271 | $1,506 | 71 | 29% lower | 32% |
| 91 | West Plains | $47,216 | $1,506 | 71 | 29% lower | 38% |
| 92 | Bolivar | $51,951 | $1,502 | 71 | 29% lower | 35% |
| 93 | Joplin | $55,417 | $1,496 | 70 | 30% lower | 32% |
| 94 | Clinton | $54,741 | $1,479 | 70 | 30% lower | 32% |
| 95 | Nevada | $54,353 | $1,476 | 69 | 31% lower | 33% |
| 96 | Lebanon | $49,587 | $1,455 | 68 | 32% lower | 35% |
| 97 | Salem | $49,598 | $1,451 | 68 | 32% lower | 35% |
| 98 | Chillicothe | $58,526 | $1,421 | 67 | 33% lower | 29% |
| 99 | Warsaw | $47,795 | $1,410 | 66 | 34% lower | 35% |
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.