What is the cost of living in Clayton, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clayton has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Clayton has a cost of living index that's 1.7x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Clayton ranks as #142 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Clayton ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Clayton, check out:
Clayton Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clayton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clayton is 100.
The Groceries index in Clayton is 97.
The Health index in Clayton is 279.
The Housing index in Clayton is 93.
The Transportation index in Clayton is 93.
The Utilities index in Clayton is 99.
| Living Expense | Clayton | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 279 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 96 | 100 |
Clayton 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 Clayton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Clayton, 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 Clayton is $871,222.
The Median Rent in Clayton is $1,692.
The Median Income in Clayton is $123,000.
The Home Value To Income in Clayton is 7.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clayton is 0.17x.
Clayton, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Clayton Services costs vs. Missouri
Detailed Clayton Groceries costs vs. Missouri
Detailed Clayton Health costs vs. Missouri
Detailed Clayton Transportation costs vs. Missouri
Clayton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clayton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clayton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chesterfield, MO has a cost of living index of 121, 0.8x Clayton.
Wildwood, MO has a cost of living index of 122, 0.8x Clayton.
Ballwin, MO has a cost of living index of 109, 0.7x Clayton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield, MO | 49,574 | 121 | 0.8x |
| Wildwood, MO | 35,133 | 122 | 0.8x |
| Ballwin, MO | 31,279 | 109 | 0.7x |
| Kirkwood, MO | 29,363 | 117 | 0.8x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 0.6x |
| Fairview Heights, IL | 16,745 | 95 | 0.6x |
| Swansea, IL | 14,710 | 100 | 0.7x |
| Town and Country, MO | 11,607 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Columbia, IL | 11,127 | 103 | 0.7x |
| Richmond Heights, MO | 9,153 | 106 | 0.7x |
