West Plains, MO Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In West Plains, MO Summary

Cost of living in West Plains research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means West Plains is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Missouri, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in West Plains is 81, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in West Plains is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • West Plains ranks as the #9 cheapest in Missouri out of 142.

  • West Plains ranks as the #158 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in West Plains is $224,400.

  • The median income in West Plains is $39,897.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
81
West Plains's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in West Plains, MO?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Plains has an overall cost of living index of 81, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Missouri, West Plains has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Missouri's index of 88.

The standard of living in West Plains ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 142 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies West Plains ranks as the #133 most expensive place in the Show Me State.

For more reading on life in West Plains, check out:

9 out of 142
In Missouri
158 out of 6,489
In America

West Plains Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Plains. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in West Plains is 88.

  • The Groceries index in West Plains is 92.

  • The Health index in West Plains is 97.

  • The Housing index in West Plains is 58.

  • The Transportation index in West Plains is 92.

  • The Utilities index in West Plains is 81.

Living Expense West Plains Missouri National Average
Overall 81 88 100
Services 88 93 100
Groceries 92 96 100
Health 97 91 100
Housing 58 78 100
Transportation 92 90 100
Utilities 81 99 100
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, check out:
West Plains Cost of Living Vs. MO

West Plains, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in West Plains is $224,400.

  • The Median Rent in West Plains is $762.

  • The Median Income in West Plains is $39,897.

  • The Home Value To Income in West Plains is 5.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in West Plains is 0.23x.

Statistic West Plains Missouri United States
Median Home Value $224,400 $257,929 $303,400
Median Rent $762 $996 $1,348
Median Income $39,897 $68,920 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.6x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.17x 0.21x
$224,400
Median Home Value
$762
Median Rent
$39,897
Median Income

West Plains, MO Costs By Category

Detailed West Plains Services Costs Vs. Missouri

Item West Plains 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 West Plains Groceries Costs Vs. Missouri

Item West Plains 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 West Plains Health Costs Vs. Missouri

Item West Plains Missouri
Optometrist $87.72 $125.68
Doctor $89.65 $135.78
Dentist $114.22 $113.29

Detailed West Plains Transportation Costs Vs. Missouri

Item West Plains Missouri
Gasoline $3.49 $3.46
Tire Balancing $45.32 $59.92

Detailed West Plains Utilities Costs Vs. Missouri

Item West Plains Missouri
All Electricity $193.72 $193.99
Phone $200.43 $192.25

West Plains SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
4
Affordability
7
Diversity
3
Safety
4
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
9.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Plains

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Plains. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Mountain Home, AR has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x West Plains.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. West Plains
Mountain Home, AR 13,021 85 1.0x

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