What is the cost of living in Joplin, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Joplin has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Joplin has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Joplin ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Joplin ranks as the #111 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Joplin, check out:
Joplin Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Joplin. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Joplin is 95.
The Groceries index in Joplin is 93.
The Health index in Joplin is 73.
The Housing index in Joplin is 98.
The Transportation index in Joplin is 92.
The Utilities index in Joplin is 93.
| Living Expense | Joplin | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 96 | 100 |
Joplin 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 Joplin Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Joplin, 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 Joplin is $200,471.
The Median Rent in Joplin is $962.
The Median Income in Joplin is $52,097.
The Home Value To Income in Joplin is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Joplin is 0.22x.
Joplin, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Joplin Services costs vs. Missouri
Detailed Joplin Groceries costs vs. Missouri
Detailed Joplin Health costs vs. Missouri
Detailed Joplin Transportation costs vs. Missouri
Joplin SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Joplin
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Joplin. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Carthage, MO has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Joplin.
Neosho, MO has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Joplin.
Carl Junction, MO has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Joplin.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Joplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage, MO | 15,574 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Neosho, MO | 13,224 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Carl Junction, MO | 8,339 | 95 | 1.1x |
