What is the cost of living in Jefferson City, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Jefferson City has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Jefferson City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Jefferson City ranks as #69 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Jefferson City ranks as the #75 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Jefferson City, check out:
Jefferson City Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Jefferson City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Jefferson City is 98.
The Groceries index in Jefferson City is 100.
The Health index in Jefferson City is 82.
The Housing index in Jefferson City is 93.
The Transportation index in Jefferson City is 97.
The Utilities index in Jefferson City is 93.
| Living Expense | Jefferson City | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 96 | 100 |
Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City is $272,648.
The Median Rent in Jefferson City is $802.
The Median Income in Jefferson City is $66,371.
The Home Value To Income in Jefferson City is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Jefferson City is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Jefferson City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $272,648 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $802 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,371 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Jefferson City, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Jefferson City Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Jefferson City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.05 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.14 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $44.94 | $45.56 |
Detailed Jefferson City Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Jefferson City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.66 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.7 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.74 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.14 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Jefferson City Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Jefferson City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $135.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $141.87 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $99.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Jefferson City Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Jefferson City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.24 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $47.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed Jefferson City Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Jefferson City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $168.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $197.21 | $192.25 |
