What is the cost of living in University City, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, University City has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, University City has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in University City ranks as #126 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies University City ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in University City, check out:
University City Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in University City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in University City is 99.
The Groceries index in University City is 97.
The Health index in University City is 133.
The Housing index in University City is 96.
The Transportation index in University City is 94.
The Utilities index in University City is 99.
| Living Expense | University City | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 133 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 96 | 100 |
University 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 University City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
University 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 University City is $265,837.
The Median Rent in University City is $1,319.
The Median Income in University City is $80,694.
The Home Value To Income in University City is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in University City is 0.2x.
| Statistic | University City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $265,837 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,319 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $80,694 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.3x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
University City, MO Costs By Category
Detailed University City Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | University City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.11 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.28 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.92 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.19 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed University City Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | University City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.4 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.5 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.28 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.84 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed University City Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | University City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.51 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed University City Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | University City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed University City Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | University City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $133.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.69 | $192.25 |
