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 85, 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 90.
The standard of living in West Plains ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies West Plains ranks as the #127 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in West Plains, check out:
West Plains Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Plains. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Plains is 94.
The Groceries index in West Plains is 95.
The Health index in West Plains is 56.
The Housing index in West Plains is 97.
The Transportation index in West Plains is 93.
The Utilities index in West Plains is 95.
| Living Expense | West Plains | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 56 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
West Plains 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 West Plains Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in West Plains is $221,521.
The Median Rent in West Plains is $810.
The Median Income in West Plains is $44,002.
The Home Value To Income in West Plains is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Plains is 0.22x.
| Statistic | West Plains | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $221,521 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $810 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $44,002 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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
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 91, 1.1x West Plains.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Plains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home, AR | 13,108 | 91 | 1.1x |
