What is the cost of living in Carl Junction, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carl Junction has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Carl Junction has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Carl Junction ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Carl Junction ranks as the #57 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Carl Junction, check out:
Carl Junction Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carl Junction. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carl Junction is 93.
The Groceries index in Carl Junction is 92.
The Health index in Carl Junction is 94.
The Housing index in Carl Junction is 98.
The Transportation index in Carl Junction is 91.
The Utilities index in Carl Junction is 94.
| Living Expense | Carl Junction | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 94 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 91 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 96 | 100 |
Carl Junction Cost Of Living Compared To Missouri Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Carl Junction Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carl Junction, MO Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Missouri, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Carl Junction is $250,863.
The Median Rent in Carl Junction is $1,307.
The Median Income in Carl Junction is $82,879.
The Home Value To Income in Carl Junction is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carl Junction is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Carl Junction | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $250,863 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,307 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $82,879 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Carl Junction, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Carl Junction Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Carl Junction | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.01 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Carl Junction Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Carl Junction | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.78 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.48 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.78 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.46 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.4 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed Carl Junction Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Carl Junction | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $98.94 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $140.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $93.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carl Junction Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Carl Junction | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.11 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $59.12 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carl Junction Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Carl Junction | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $218.93 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.63 | $192.25 |
Carl Junction SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carl Junction
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carl Junction. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Joplin, MO has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Carl Junction.
Pittsburg, KS has a cost of living index of 82, 0.9x Carl Junction.
Carthage, MO has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Carl Junction.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carl Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO | 52,593 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Pittsburg, KS | 20,637 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Carthage, MO | 15,574 | 85 | 0.9x |








