What is the cost of living in St. Joseph, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Joseph has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, St. Joseph has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in St. Joseph ranks as #53 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies St. Joseph ranks as the #91 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in St. Joseph, check out:
St. Joseph Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Joseph. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Joseph is 96.
The Groceries index in St. Joseph is 97.
The Health index in St. Joseph is 68.
The Housing index in St. Joseph is 93.
The Transportation index in St. Joseph is 98.
The Utilities index in St. Joseph is 100.
| Living Expense | St. Joseph | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 68 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 96 | 100 |
St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Joseph, 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 St. Joseph is $180,019.
The Median Rent in St. Joseph is $898.
The Median Income in St. Joseph is $57,956.
The Home Value To Income in St. Joseph is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Joseph is 0.19x.
| Statistic | St. Joseph | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $180,019 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $898 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $57,956 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
St. Joseph, MO Costs By Category
Detailed St. Joseph Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | St. Joseph | 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 St. Joseph Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | St. Joseph | 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 St. Joseph Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | St. Joseph | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $96.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $90.2 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Joseph Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | St. Joseph | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.17 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Joseph Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | St. Joseph | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $217.1 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $199.94 | $192.25 |
St. Joseph SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Joseph
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Joseph. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Liberty, MO has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x St. Joseph.
Gladstone, MO has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x St. Joseph.
Kearney, MO has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x St. Joseph.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Joseph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty, MO | 30,689 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Gladstone, MO | 27,207 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Kearney, MO | 10,885 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Smithville, MO | 10,705 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Excelsior Springs, MO | 10,484 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Maryville, MO | 10,428 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Parkville, MO | 8,366 | 125 | 1.4x |
| Basehor, KS | 7,491 | 106 | 1.2x |
| King, NC | 7,408 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Savannah, MO | 5,053 | 89 | 1.0x |
