These Are The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri For 2018


We used data and science to determine which places in Missouri go easy on your wallet.

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
December 27, 2017 - 6,109 views
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A wise sage once said:

“She works hard for the money…”

And these places in Missouri definitely treat her right.

You see, these are the places in Missouri where the cost of living is the lowest; where your salary goes the furthest. And when if you have the luxury of choosing where to live in the Show Me State, then the cost of living should play a role in the decision.

So we did the hard for you and crunched the numbers to find the cities that have lower food, energy, and housing costs. After the dust settled on our analysis of the 120 largest places in Missouri, we were left with this set of the best value for your money.

Here are the 10 cheapest places to live in Missouri for 2018:

  1. Dexter (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  2. Kennett (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  3. Poplar Bluff (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  4. Sikeston (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  5. Nevada (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  6. Neosho (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  7. Webb City (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  8. Carthage (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  9. Joplin (Photos | Homes For Sale)
  10. Aurora (Photos | Homes For Sale)

So listen up Ladue (the most expensive place in Missouri) as we explain how we created this ranking. You could learn some things from the rest of the state.

And if you already knew these places were cheap, check out some more reading about Missouri and the cheapest places in the country:

How We Determined The Cheapest Places To Live In The Show Me State For 2018

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri
There are basic necessities that you have to buy no matter where in the country you live. Those things include:

  • Housing
  • Food
  • Gas
  • Health Insurance
  • Utilities
  • Transportation

You can then compare the cost of these things in each of the places in Missouri to figure out which is the least expensive.

What you are left with is a “Cost of Living Index” that normalizes to 100 for an average place in the United States.

So we used that cost of living index in order to rank all of the 120 places in Missouri that have more than 5,000 people.

And just so you can better understand how the cost of living index works, 100 is the average cost of a place in the United States. A score of 90 means that the place cost 10% less than average. A score of 90 means it’s 10% less expensive.

San Francisco has a score of 243 meaning it’s almost 2.5 times as expensive as the average place in the country.

1. Dexter

Dexter Location In

Dexter, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Skye Marthaler | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 7,846
Services: 93
Groceries: 92
Health Care: 86
Housing: 49
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 92
More on Dexter: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Dexter is a city in Stoddard County, Missouri, United States, founded in 1873. The population was 7,864 at the 2010 census.

2. Kennett

Kennett Location In

Kennett, MO

Source: Flickr User ? | Public Doamin
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 11,244
Services: 93
Groceries: 92
Health Care: 86
Housing: 52
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 92
More on Kennett: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Kennett is a city in and the county seat of Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The city is located in the southeast corner of Missouri, 4 miles east of Arkansas and 20 miles from the Mississippi River. It has a population of 10,932 according to the 2010 Census. It is the largest city in the Bootheel, a mostly agricultural area.

3. Poplar Bluff

Poplar Bluff Location In

Poplar Bluff, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Michael Gäbler | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 17,110
Services: 93
Groceries: 92
Health Care: 86
Housing: 52
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 92
More on Poplar Bluff: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Poplar Bluff is a small city in Butler County in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as “The Gateway to the Ozarks” among other names. The population was 17,023 at the 2010 census.

4. Sikeston

Sikeston Location In

Sikeston, MO

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 16,414
Services: 93
Groceries: 92
Health Care: 86
Housing: 58
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 92
More on Sikeston: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is situated just north of the “Missouri Bootheel”, although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Interstate 57, and U.S. Route 60, Sikeston is close to the halfway point between St. Louis, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee and three hours from Nashville, Tennessee. The city is named after John Sikes, who founded it in 1860. It is the principal city of the Sikeston Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of all of Scott County, and has a total population of 41,143.

5. Nevada

Nevada Location In

Nevada, MO

Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 8,073
Services: 94
Groceries: 89
Health Care: 90
Housing: 46
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 119
More on Nevada: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Nevada is a city and a county seat of Vernon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,386 at the 2010 census, and 8,171 in the 2012 estimate. Nevada is the home of Cottey College. Nevada’s local government is the council-manager model. The mayor of Nevada is Brian Leanard.

6. Neosho

Neosho Location In

Neosho, MO

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 11,906
Services: 94
Groceries: 89
Health Care: 90
Housing: 52
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 119
More on Neosho: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Neosho residents. Neosho lies on the western edge of the Ozarks.

7. Webb City

Webb City, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Batotman | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 10,923
Services: 94
Groceries: 89
Health Care: 90
Housing: 54
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 119
More on Webb City: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,996 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Webb City also has a police department, a fire department, and animal control services.

8. Carthage

Carthage Location In

Carthage, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Maureen Didde f | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 14,271
Services: 94
Groceries: 89
Health Care: 90
Housing: 55
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 119
More on Carthage: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed “America’s Maple Leaf City.”

9. Joplin

Joplin Location In

Joplin, MO

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 49,924
Services: 94
Groceries: 89
Health Care: 90
Housing: 60
Transportation: 87
Utilities: 119
More on Joplin: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Joplin or is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150. Joplin is the main hub of the three-county Joplin-Miami, Oklahoma metropolitan area.

10. Aurora

Aurora Location In

Aurora, MO

Source: Wikipedia User Johnston9494 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 7,502
Services: 99
Groceries: 100
Health Care: 94
Housing: 52
Transportation: 83
Utilities: 103
More on Aurora: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Aurora is a city in Lawrence County, Missouri, United States. The population was 7,508 at the 2010 census.

There You Have It Mr. Or Mrs. Missouri Cheapskate

If you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Missouri, this is an accurate list of the cheapest places to call home.

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

  1. Ladue
  2. Clayton
  3. Sunset Hills

For more Missouri reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Cheapest Places In Missouri

Rank City CheapScore Population Services Groceries Health Care
1 Dexter 16.42 7,846 93 92 86
2 Kennett 17.25 11,244 93 92 86
3 Poplar Bluff 17.25 17,110 93 92 86
4 Sikeston 19.92 16,414 93 92 86
5 Nevada 32.83 8,073 94 89 90
6 Neosho 34.42 11,906 94 89 90
7 Webb City 35.42 10,923 94 89 90
8 Carthage 35.75 14,271 94 89 90
9 Joplin 37.92 49,924 94 89 90
10 Aurora 38.58 7,502 99 100 94
11 Trenton 39.0 6,067 103 89 99
12 Monett 39.17 8,893 94 89 90
13 Macon 39.33 5,470 101 96 99
14 Marshall 39.83 12,950 101 96 99
15 Bowling Green 40.42 5,301 101 96 99
16 Moberly 40.42 13,980 101 96 99
17 Lebanon 40.83 14,454 99 100 94
18 Kirksville 41.08 17,503 101 96 99
19 Hannibal 41.08 17,835 101 96 99
20 Mexico 41.42 11,571 101 96 99
21 West Plains 41.67 12,020 99 100 94
22 Sedalia 42.17 21,340 101 96 99
23 Chillicothe 42.5 8,791 103 89 99
24 Marshfield 42.67 6,644 99 100 94
25 Clinton 43.42 9,167 103 89 99
26 Boonville 43.5 8,305 101 96 99
27 Springfield 43.92 160,246 99 100 94
28 Bolivar 43.92 10,331 99 100 94
29 Carl Junction 44.0 7,339 94 89 90
30 Fulton 44.5 12,702 101 96 99
31 Excelsior Springs 44.83 11,244 103 89 99
32 Cameron 44.83 9,935 103 89 99
33 Charleston 45.25 5,847 113 89 91
34 Richmond 45.5 5,790 103 89 99
35 Caruthersville 45.83 6,169 113 89 91
36 Willard 46.0 5,237 99 100 94
37 Savannah 46.08 5,034 103 89 99
38 Grandview 46.92 24,491 103 89 99
39 Independence 47.25 116,513 103 89 99
40 Republic 47.25 14,637 99 100 94
41 Raytown 47.58 29,486 103 89 99
42 Battlefield 47.83 5,496 99 100 94
43 Odessa 48.17 5,260 103 89 99
44 Rolla 48.33 19,484 98 96 99
45 Ozark 48.5 17,710 99 100 94
46 Harrisonville 49.42 10,017 103 89 99
47 Nixa 49.67 19,032 99 100 94
48 Oak Grove 50.0 7,653 103 89 99
49 Gladstone 51.08 25,635 103 89 99
50 Warrensburg 51.33 18,988 103 89 99
51 Kansas City 51.5 459,772 103 89 99
52 Branson 51.58 10,463 99 100 94
53 Belton 51.67 23,182 103 89 99
54 Jefferson City 51.67 42,983 98 96 99
55 Pleasant Hill 52.25 8,046 103 89 99
56 Blue Springs 52.83 52,401 103 89 99
57 Liberty 52.83 29,252 103 89 99
58 Smithville 53.33 8,411 103 89 99
59 Grain Valley 53.33 12,507 103 89 99
60 Columbia 53.42 109,008 101 96 99
61 Kearney 54.0 8,419 103 89 99
62 Greenwood 54.5 5,179 103 89 99
63 Raymore 55.0 19,006 103 89 99
64 Maryville 56.42 11,924 95 95 102
65 Parkville 57.17 5,538 103 89 99
66 Park Hills 67.58 8,717 97 101 101
67 Bonne Terre 68.08 6,853 97 101 101
68 Jennings 70.25 14,741 97 101 101
69 Desloge 70.67 5,027 97 101 101
70 De Soto 71.17 6,440 97 101 101
71 Normandy 71.17 5,020 97 101 101
72 Berkeley 72.0 9,022 97 101 101
73 Pevely 72.42 5,449 97 101 101
74 Perryville 73.0 8,234 97 101 101
75 Ferguson 74.75 21,205 97 101 101
76 Sullivan 74.75 7,830 97 101 101
77 Overland 75.08 16,063 97 101 101
78 Farmington 75.42 16,522 97 101 101
79 Bellefontaine Neighbors 75.75 10,863 97 101 101
80 Dellwood 76.33 5,028 97 101 101
81 Florissant 76.33 52,273 97 101 101
82 Cape Girardeau 76.33 37,982 97 101 101
83 Hazelwood 77.0 25,678 97 101 101
84 Warrenton 77.0 7,850 97 101 101
85 Pacific 77.58 6,024 97 101 101
86 Union 77.58 10,220 97 101 101
87 Festus 78.17 11,559 97 101 101
88 Maplewood 78.83 8,081 97 101 101
89 Troy 78.83 10,587 97 101 101
90 Jackson 79.25 13,815 97 101 101
91 Black Jack 80.17 6,911 97 101 101
92 Washington 80.42 13,979 97 101 101
93 Arnold 80.67 20,859 97 101 101
94 Maryland Heights 81.0 27,418 97 101 101
95 Bridgeton 81.5 11,756 97 101 101
96 Shrewsbury 82.33 6,261 97 101 101
97 Valley Park 82.5 6,938 97 101 101
98 Crestwood 82.83 11,901 97 101 101
99 University City 83.0 35,397 97 101 101
100 Brentwood 83.33 8,022 97 101 101

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