Independence, MO Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Independence, MO Summary

Cost of living in Independence research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Independence is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Missouri, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Independence is 86, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Independence is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Independence ranks as the #38 cheapest in Missouri out of 142.

  • Independence ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Independence is $205,180.

  • The median income in Independence is $59,480.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Independence's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Independence, MO?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Independence has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Missouri, Independence has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Missouri's index of 88.

The standard of living in Independence ranks as #38 most affordable out of the 142 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Independence ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Show Me State.

For more reading on life in Independence, check out:

38 out of 142
In Missouri
639 out of 6,489
In America

Independence Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Independence. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Independence is 92.

  • The Groceries index in Independence is 98.

  • The Health index in Independence is 83.

  • The Housing index in Independence is 74.

  • The Transportation index in Independence is 87.

  • The Utilities index in Independence is 110.

Living Expense Independence Missouri National Average
Overall 86 88 100
Services 92 93 100
Groceries 98 96 100
Health 83 91 100
Housing 74 78 100
Transportation 87 90 100
Utilities 110 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, check out:
Independence Cost of Living Vs. MO

Independence, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Independence is $205,180.

  • The Median Rent in Independence is $1,061.

  • The Median Income in Independence is $59,480.

  • The Home Value To Income in Independence is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Independence is 0.21x.

Statistic Independence Missouri United States
Median Home Value $205,180 $257,929 $303,400
Median Rent $1,061 $996 $1,348
Median Income $59,480 $68,920 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.17x 0.21x
$205,180
Median Home Value
$1,061
Median Rent
$59,480
Median Income

Independence, MO Costs By Category

Detailed Independence Services Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Independence Missouri
Shampoo $1.42 $1.28
Movie $12.03 $12.13
Bowling $15.57 $18
Haircut $20.3 $24.26
Beauty Salon $33.43 $45.56

Detailed Independence Groceries Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Independence Missouri
Ground Beef $6.31 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.4 $1.57
Milk $4.62 $4.67
Potatoes $5.24 $4.93
Pizza $11.48 $12.09
Beer $9.39 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.7 $3.7

Detailed Independence Health Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Independence Missouri
Optometrist $96.5 $125.68
Doctor $90.2 $135.78
Dentist $100.33 $113.29

Detailed Independence Transportation Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Independence Missouri
Gasoline $3.17 $3.46
Tire Balancing $49.17 $59.92

Detailed Independence Utilities Costs Vs. Missouri

Item Independence Missouri
All Electricity $217.1 $193.99
Phone $199.94 $192.25

Independence SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
7
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Independence

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Independence. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Lee's Summit, MO has a cost of living index of 103, 1.2x Independence.

  • Blue Springs, MO has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Independence.

  • Leawood, KS has a cost of living index of 134, 1.6x Independence.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Independence
Lee's Summit, MO 102,583 103 1.2x
Blue Springs, MO 59,416 93 1.1x
Leawood, KS 33,844 134 1.6x
Liberty, MO 30,446 97 1.1x
Raytown, MO 29,593 87 1.0x
Gladstone, MO 27,069 91 1.1x
Grain Valley, MO 15,967 96 1.1x
Kearney, MO 10,696 101 1.2x
Pleasant Hill, MO 8,853 96 1.1x
Greenwood, MO 6,000 98 1.1x

Articles About Missouri

Enjoy The Snack?