The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri In 2024


The most affordable places to live in Missouri for 2024 are Jennings, Park Hills, and St. Ann according to Saturday Night Science.

You don’t need to be an Ozarks money launderer to enjoy the comforts of living in Missouri – the cost of living in most cities is surprisingly low.

In fact, the cheapest places to live in Missouri are a testament to the Show-Me State’s commitment to affordability.

How did we determine the cheapest places to live in Missouri? Our methodology is simple. We used Saturday Night Science to look at factors like median home price, average income, and overall cost of living. We then compare these factors across all cities in the state to come up with our top ten list of the most affordable places to live in Missouri.

Now sit back with some Kansas City BBQ and join us as we explore the cheapest places to live in Missouri.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary


Most Affordable Cities In Missouri Map

Missouri Real Estate Roundtable Opinion

Jeffrey Fortune

“The most affordable cities listed in Missouri reflect a wide variety of opportunities for home buyers. They run the gambit from rural to urban, congested to sparsely populated, and a distinctly different list of city services and amenities.

Investing in a home within a highly affordable area can be a wise decision if you anticipate positive growth. However, suppose the area is experiencing a prolonged decline. In that case, channeling your financial resources and future into an area with greater growth potential that will also provide the desired lifestyle is likely more prudent.”

Jeffrey Fortune, REALTOR

What is the cheapest place to live in Missouri? The cheapest place to live in Missouri is Jennings based on the cost of housing adjusted for incomes and cost of living.

Missouri’s most affordable places have you covered whether you’re looking for a job in agriculture, aerospace, tech, or even beer – hello, Anheuser-Busch.

Check out some more reading about Missouri and the cheapest places in the country:

The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri For 2024

Jennings, MO

Source: Wikipedia User User:LittletT889 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

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/10

Population: 12,996
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 77
Median Income: $32,462
Median Home Price: $58,011
Median Rent: $857

Jennings, located in the northern part of St. Louis County, MO, stands out for its affordability due to the Show Me State’s lowest home values at $58,011.

These home prices and reduced living costs make it a budget-friendly bastion. Its overall cost of living is 12.5% lower than the state average, making Jennings a frugal fortress for those planting their stakes in Missouri soil.

More on Jennings: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Park Hills, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Grey Wanderer | CC BY-SA 3.0
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Population: 8,653
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 77
Median Income: $50,628
Median Home Price: $132,005
Median Rent: $724

Park Hills, located in the heart of Missouri, is a great place to live for those looking for an affordable lifestyle. With a median home value of $132,005 and a median rent of $724, the cost of living is lower than the national average.

Not only is Park Hills affordable, but it also has a strong community feel. Its small-town charm, coupled with its proximity to larger cities like St. Louis, make it a great place to call home. The city offers a variety of parks and recreational opportunities, as well as a downtown with shops and restaurants.

More on Park Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

St. Ann, MO

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0
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Population: 12,917
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $48,081
Median Home Price: $136,175
Median Rent: $880

A St. Louis suburb, St. Ann ranks as the third most affordable city in Missouri. St. Ann’s median rent of $880 is a bit pricey, and keeps the city from achieving a higher rank on this list. However, with a median income of $48,081 and a median home price of $136,175, St. Ann has the 20th best home price to income ratio in the state. As a bonus, St. Ann is one of the best cities for singles in Missouri, so you can find the love of your life without breaking the bank here.

More on St. Ann: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Aurora, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Johnston9494 | CC BY-SA 4.0
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Population: 7,290
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 79
Median Income: $44,728
Median Home Price: $150,015
Median Rent: $760

Located 35 miles southwest of Springfield, Aurora rounds out our list of cheapest cities in Missouri. At a median price of $150,015, Aurora has the 20th least expensive homes in Missouri, and the cheapest you’ll see on this list. Coupled with a median income of $44,728, Aurora has the third best home price to income ratio on this list.

On the flip side, Aurora’s affordability drops off precipitously for renters. In any case, thanks to the Sunset Drive-In Theatre, you’ll never have to worry about a cheap option for date night in Aurora.

More on Aurora: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Webb City, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Elijah Thomas Webb Residence | CC BY-SA 4.0
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Population: 13,002
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $58,964
Median Home Price: $195,274
Median Rent: $897

Homes in Webb City are the second most expensive you’ll see on this list, but that doesn’t stop the city from being fifth cheapest overall in Missouri. A home in Webb City goes for about $195,274 and the median income is $58,964, so it’s no sweat paying off the mortgage here. We recommend you use your pockets full of extra cash at the local farmer’s market for the freshest food in town.

Webb City is located in the southwestern part of the state, near the borders of Kansas and Oklahoma.

More on Webb City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

West Plains, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Truett Ray | CC BY-SA 4.0
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Population: 12,250
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $38,676
Median Home Price: $200,891
Median Rent: $739

In the heart of MO, West Plains shines as an economic haven, securing the sixth spot for affordability. Within Howell County, residents reap the benefits of a low cost of living index at 80, undercutting the national average.

A median home value of $200,891 beckons buyers. Plus, there are plenty of free things to do in town, like a visit to Butler Children’s Park or People’s Park with the family on the weekends.

More on West Plains: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0
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Population: 10,637
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $46,115
Median Home Price: $92,443
Median Rent: $1,017

Bellefontaine Neighbors, an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, is the seventh most affordable city in the state with its fourth best home price-to-income ratio and a median rent of $1,017 which is below the national average. The city’s 80 cost of living index is 9.1% better than the state average.

Bellefontaine bargains bloom in this budget-wise borough, welcoming wallets of all weights to places like General Daniel Bissell’s house.

More on Bellefontaine Neighbors: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Nevada, MO

Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0
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Population: 8,128
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $44,318
Median Home Price: $137,667
Median Rent: $707

Nevada, MO is an affordable place to live in Missouri thanks to a median home value of $137,667 and a median rent of just $707. Additionally, Nevada’s median income of $44,318 is in line with the cost of living, making it easier for families to make ends meet.

But affordability isn’t the only thing that makes Nevada a great place to live. The city has a population of 8,128 and is home to Cottey College, a well-regarded women’s college. Its council-manager model of government ensures that public services are well-run and responsive to community needs. All in all, Nevada ranks as one of the most livable and affordable places in Missouri.

More on Nevada: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Bonne Terre, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Jon Roanhaus | CC BY-SA 4.0
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Population: 6,863
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $34,409
Median Home Price: $188,714
Median Rent: $714

Don’t let the name fool you; you won’t need to learn French to move to the ninth cheapest city in Missouri. A small city an hour south of St. Louis, Bonne Terre knocked it out of the park in terms of affordability this year, with both renters and home-buyers rejoicing over the low cost of housing. Buying a home in Bonne Terre will set you back about $188,714, which is super cheap when you consider that the median income in Bonne Terre is $34,409. In fact, Bonne Terre residents spend the 125th lowest proportion of their income on their mortgage in Missouri.

Bonne Terre is also among the safest places in Missouri, so the city hasn’t skimped on solid security. And if you need to get away from it all, Bonne Terre is home to St. Francois State Park.

More on Bonne Terre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

St. John, MO

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0
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Population: 6,583
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $52,000
Median Home Price: $117,212
Median Rent: $1,130

For our tenth cheapest place to live in Missouri, we turn to the St. Louis suburb of St. John. Just like in Oak Grove, St. John offers easy access to world-famous amenities at a fraction of the cost of the bigger city.

For instance, you’re only 20 minutes from The Gateway Arch and the Missouri Botanical Garden if you’re living in St. John.

The overall cost of living is about 15% lower than the national average, but where the city really stands out is housing costs. St. John has the ninth cheapest homes in Missouri, with a median price tag of just $117,212.

Just think of how easy it must be to pay off the mortgage in St. John, especially considering that the median household income here is $52,000. Rent in St. John is a bit steeper than most places on this list, so you’ll have to buy to fully experience how inexpensive this city really is.

More on St. John: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cheapest places to live in Missouri FAQs

The county in Missouri with the lowest cost of living is Adair County. The average living wage in Adair County is $77,540 according to MIT data. Adair County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Missouri as a whole. Childcare costs $7,243 a year in Adair County for two children compared to the Missouri average of $12,674. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $7,944 per year in Adair County compared to $10,297 on average in Missouri.

The cost of living in Missouri is 3.7% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Missouri is $86,410 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Missouri household is $57,290.

The cheapest housing market in Missouri is Jennings. The average home value in Jennings is $62,500, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Missouri is $163,600, almost 2.6 times higher than Jennings.

Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Show Me State for 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri
Determining affordability for places in Missouri boils down to how much it costs to live here.

You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.

With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Missouri using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:

  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Services
  • Groceries
  • Healthcare
  • Utilities

These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.

We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Missouri to figure out which is the least expensive.

The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 127 places in Missouri that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.

The place in Missouri with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Jennings.

We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Missouri.

Missouri Affordabilility Summary

This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Missouri for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Missouri.

The cheapest cities in Missouri are Jennings, Park Hills, St. Ann, Aurora, Webb City, West Plains, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Nevada, Bonne Terre, and St. John.

Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Missouri according to the data:

  1. Ladue
  2. Town and Country
  3. Clayton

For more Missouri reading, check out:

Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri

Rank City Population Cost Of Living Index Median Income Home Prices Rent
1 Jennings 12,996 77 $32,462 $58,011 $857
2 Park Hills 8,653 77 $50,628 $132,005 $724
3 St. Ann 12,917 78 $48,081 $136,175 $880
4 Aurora 7,290 79 $44,728 $150,015 $760
5 Webb City 13,002 80 $58,964 $195,274 $897
6 West Plains 12,250 80 $38,676 $200,891 $739
7 Bellefontaine Neighbors 10,637 80 $46,115 $92,443 $1,017
8 Nevada 8,128 80 $44,318 $137,667 $707
9 Bonne Terre 6,863 80 $34,409 $188,714 $714
10 St. John 6,583 80 $52,000 $117,212 $1,130
11 Caruthersville 5,504 80 $35,585 $95,548 $758
12 Ferguson 18,546 81 $47,410 $104,371 $1,016
13 Farmington 17,859 81 $49,317 $230,433 $789
14 Carthage 15,491 81 $43,526 $165,262 $854
15 Lebanon 15,023 81 $45,634 $204,244 $782
16 Neosho 12,670 81 $49,301 $196,630 $774
17 Kennett 10,383 81 $52,907 $100,009 $598
18 Chillicothe 9,091 81 $54,119 $153,392 $776
19 Sullivan 6,441 81 $59,243 $172,940 $857
20 Trenton 5,527 81 $48,909 $80,691 $703
21 Savannah 5,068 81 $51,694 $224,902 $763
22 St. Joseph 72,198 82 $54,515 $145,631 $854
23 Joplin 51,848 82 $50,996 $183,710 $873
24 Overland 15,838 82 $51,749 $130,030 $1,070
25 Monett 9,632 82 $42,635 $159,794 $820
26 Berkeley 8,232 82 $37,757 $76,521 $1,034
27 De Soto 6,430 82 $44,788 $206,200 $799
28 Richmond 5,975 82 $61,694 $203,328 $743
29 Union 12,341 83 $68,864 $230,739 $846
30 Mexico 11,502 83 $47,585 $144,899 $719
31 Excelsior Springs 10,546 83 $74,196 $202,892 $842
32 Clinton 8,908 83 $48,116 $156,179 $724
33 Warrenton 8,648 83 $62,096 $257,840 $882
34 Marshfield 7,501 83 $63,842 $238,760 $698
35 Black Jack 6,632 83 $63,617 $192,665 $1,085
36 St. Louis 298,018 84 $52,941 $168,569 $938
37 Springfield 168,873 84 $43,450 $222,322 $878
38 Independence 122,218 84 $57,415 $189,173 $1,020
39 Florissant 52,167 84 $64,178 $176,193 $1,195
40 Grandview 25,921 84 $51,048 $203,316 $945
41 Hazelwood 25,345 84 $55,111 $150,689 $981
42 Odessa 5,554 84 $86,125 $225,800 $911
43 Macon 5,452 84 $50,101 $155,350 $745
44 Raytown 29,772 85 $64,542 $191,914 $1,145
45 Nixa 23,523 85 $74,814 $297,518 $969
46 Kirksville 17,533 85 $41,089 $141,459 $761
47 Hannibal 17,003 85 $52,746 $141,434 $798
48 Poplar Bluff 16,313 85 $37,448 $154,670 $707
49 Moberly 13,708 85 $39,332 $113,331 $730
50 Bolivar 10,780 85 $40,530 $232,364 $791
51 Cameron 9,101 85 $50,206 $211,143 $931
52 Pevely 6,012 85 $68,141 $238,053 $822
53 Marshall 13,687 86 $52,171 $157,575 $741
54 Festus 12,772 86 $65,942 $259,258 $932
55 Fulton 12,648 86 $59,544 $205,135 $784
56 Willard 6,342 86 $76,500 $252,650 $1,077
57 Belton 24,241 87 $68,030 $236,726 $1,189
58 Sikeston 16,146 87 $47,464 $144,611 $813
59 Oak Grove 8,304 87 $71,006 $271,763 $964
60 Dexter 7,910 87 $45,617 $149,823 $675
61 Boonville 7,725 87 $50,932 $176,207 $691
62 Pacific 7,239 87 $52,155 $210,666 $820
63 Peculiar 5,675 87 $91,783 $329,307 $954
64 Arnold 20,840 88 $72,317 $241,114 $1,057
65 Republic 18,824 88 $63,102 $249,783 $1,018
66 Troy 12,964 88 $74,463 $278,307 $983
67 Branson 12,651 88 $49,790 $261,481 $916
68 Harrisonville 10,024 88 $57,607 $253,584 $850
69 Carl Junction 8,197 88 $69,259 $242,308 $1,140
70 Waynesville 5,372 88 $47,193 $218,372 $846
71 Gladstone 26,964 89 $68,633 $246,002 $1,048
72 Ozark 21,459 89 $66,631 $290,499 $963
73 Warrensburg 19,317 89 $54,535 $250,017 $878
74 Washington 14,769 89 $75,127 $276,502 $764
75 Pleasant Hill 8,822 89 $88,408 $320,437 $1,100
76 Maplewood 8,205 89 $58,448 $243,461 $845
77 Battlefield 6,046 89 $82,302 $273,871 $929
78 Kansas City 505,958 90 $65,256 $227,993 $1,131
79 Maryland Heights 28,099 90 $82,232 $234,669 $1,181
80 Rolla 20,025 90 $37,685 $198,371 $760
81 Bridgeton 11,422 90 $69,982 $250,506 $976
82 Maryville 10,691 90 $49,144 $207,346 $762
83 Perryville 8,536 90 $52,500 $201,535 $882
84 Blue Springs 58,720 91 $82,965 $283,645 $1,159
85 St. Peters 57,692 91 $88,708 $289,759 $1,186
86 Cape Girardeau 39,795 91 $51,671 $198,696 $822
87 Greenwood 6,038 91 $103,560 $327,682 $1,689
88 Jefferson City 42,644 92 $63,649 $235,946 $740
89 Grain Valley 15,688 92 $82,364 $323,497 $1,248
90 Valley Park 6,848 92 $63,478 $260,081 $1,245
91 St. Charles 70,687 93 $83,589 $295,372 $1,115
92 Liberty 30,299 93 $91,512 $303,673 $1,004
93 Crestwood 12,315 93 $111,791 $306,853 $1,001
94 Kearney 10,491 93 $99,969 $379,573 $1,035
95 Smithville 10,416 93 $95,122 $354,373 $719
96 Shrewsbury 6,352 93 $82,681 $267,379 $1,096
97 St. Robert 5,242 93 $52,627 $204,458 $957
98 Lee’s Summit 101,728 95 $103,447 $347,310 $1,295
99 Wentzville 44,584 96 $109,158 $364,171 $1,169
100 Raymore 23,232 96 $96,536 $328,747 $1,410
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.