What is the cost of living in Waynesville, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waynesville has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Waynesville has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Waynesville ranks as #95 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Waynesville ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Waynesville, check out:
Waynesville Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waynesville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waynesville is 96.
The Groceries index in Waynesville is 97.
The Health index in Waynesville is 100.
The Housing index in Waynesville is 93.
The Transportation index in Waynesville is 93.
The Utilities index in Waynesville is 91.
| Living Expense | Waynesville | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 97 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 100 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 96 | 100 |
Waynesville 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 Waynesville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waynesville, 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 Waynesville is $242,454.
The Median Rent in Waynesville is $1,152.
The Median Income in Waynesville is $56,836.
The Home Value To Income in Waynesville is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waynesville is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Waynesville | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $242,454 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,152 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,836 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Waynesville, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Waynesville Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Waynesville | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.45 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.06 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.9 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $43.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Waynesville Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Waynesville | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.37 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.65 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.78 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.93 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed Waynesville Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Waynesville | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $87.72 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $89.65 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waynesville Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Waynesville | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.49 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waynesville Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Waynesville | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $193.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.43 | $192.25 |
Waynesville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waynesville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waynesville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Rolla, MO has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Waynesville.
Fort Leonard Wood, MO has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Waynesville.
Lebanon, MO has a cost of living index of 84, 0.9x Waynesville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waynesville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla, MO | 20,287 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 15,432 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Lebanon, MO | 15,270 | 84 | 0.9x |
| St. Robert, MO | 5,356 | 95 | 1.0x |
