Cost of Living in Missouri 2026 — Housing, Income & Taxes

📊 Missouri at a Glance — 2026

Cost of Living Index

US average = 100 · Below Average

Median Household Income

$60,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Average 1BR Rent

$950/mo

Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index

State Income Tax

4.95%

Check official state rates

Average Home Price

$215,000

Source: Zillow Home Value Index

Salary Needed (30% rule)

$38,000

To keep housing under 30% of income

📈 Missouri vs the National Average

Cost of Living

Missouri runs 11% below the national average (index 89 vs. the U.S. baseline of 100). Missouri's affordability comes from having two mid-sized metro areas rather than one dominant expensive city pulling up statewide averages. On the tax side, Missouri applies a graduated income tax that the state has been gradually reducing.

💡 What Salary Do You Need in Missouri?

Using the 50/30/20 budget rule, housing should cost no more than 30% of your gross income. With average rent at $950/month in Missouri, you need roughly $38,000/year to live comfortably without being housing-cost-burdened.

Find out exactly how much you take home after Missouri taxes

💰 Calculate Missouri Take-Home Pay → 🏡 See How Much Home You Can Afford →

Is Missouri expensive to live in?

Missouri's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the U.S. average — that's 11% below the national average. Missouri's affordability comes from having two mid-sized metro areas rather than one dominant expensive city pulling up statewide averages. The biggest local industries are agriculture, aerospace (Boeing has a major plant in St. Louis), and logistics, centered around Kansas City and St. Louis.

What is the average rent in Missouri in 2026?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Missouri averages $950/month as of 2026 (Zillow Observed Rent Index). That's set against a median household income of $60,000/year, so rent alone runs roughly 19% of the typical household's pre-tax income.

What salary do you need to live in Missouri?

Following the standard 30%-of-income guideline for housing, you'd want roughly $38,000/year to cover Missouri's average rent comfortably. That's a general rule of thumb, not a hard rule — your real number depends on debt, family size, and where in Missouri you're looking. Our free paycheck calculator shows your actual take-home pay after Missouri taxes.

Does Missouri have a state income tax?

Missouri applies a graduated income tax that the state has been gradually reducing. The listed rate is 4.95%. Use our free paycheck calculator to see exactly how that affects your specific take-home pay.

🔗 More Free Tools

💰 PayCalc Pro — See your take-home pay after Missouri taxes 🏡 HomeBuy Calc — How much home can you afford in Missouri? 📊 Compare All 50 States — Cost of Living by State 2026

Cost of Living in Missouri 2026 — Full Guide

Missouri's cost of living index sits at 89, meaning it runs 11% below the national average. Missouri's affordability comes from having two mid-sized metro areas rather than one dominant expensive city pulling up statewide averages.

Missouri's Economy

Missouri's economy centers on agriculture, aerospace (Boeing has a major plant in St. Louis), and logistics, with most of that activity concentrated around Kansas City and St. Louis. That local economic base shapes everything from job availability to how quickly housing supply responds to demand — a state built around a few large employers behaves very differently, cost-wise, than one with a diversified metro economy.

Housing Costs in Missouri

The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Missouri is approximately $950 per month in 2026. Average home values sit around $215,000. Missouri's affordability comes from having two mid-sized metro areas rather than one dominant expensive city pulling up statewide averages.

Taxes in Missouri

Missouri applies a graduated income tax that the state has been gradually reducing. The current listed rate is 4.95%. Combined with federal taxes, this determines your real take-home pay — use our free paycheck calculator to see the exact impact on your specific salary rather than relying on a statewide average.

Data Sources

Cost of living index data is based on the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) methodology. Income figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS). Rent data is sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. All figures represent approximations and should be verified with official sources for financial planning.

All data is for informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.

Cost of Living inMissouri 2026