A+
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Joplin Missouri National
Cost of living8788100
Goods & Services9192100
Groceries9395100
Health care8990100
Housing7278100
Transportation9391100
Utilities10999100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Joplin, MO

The cost of living in Joplin affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Joplin is 87, which is 13% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Joplin?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 10 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Joplin. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 20% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 80% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Joplin Affordable?

Is Joplin an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Joplin is 32.1% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 18.4% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Joplin has a median household income of $45,091, which is 18.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Joplin?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Joplin, healthcare costs are 11.5% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Joplin, the utilities index registers at 8.9% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Joplin, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Joplin Area
Search Homes for Sale in Joplin, MO

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Joplin is 1% lower than the Missouri average
  • The cost of living in Joplin is 13% lower than the national average
  • Joplin housing is 28% lower than the national average
  • Missouri general sales tax is 17% lower than the national average
  • Missouri state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Joplin

See all the best places to live around Joplin

Compare Joplin, MO Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Joplin?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Joplin?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Joplin poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,897$4,908$1,374$1,767
      Renters$29,945$2,495$699$898
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Joplin, MO, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Joplin, homeowners have a median income of $58,897. Using that number, a maximum of $1,374 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $29,945, which means there is a maximum of $699 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Missouri Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Missouri 4.225% 10.85%

      Missouri Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Missouri 2% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Joplin National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.83$24.2610.0%
      Beauty Salon $40.00$45.5612.2%
      Toothpaste $3.77$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.04$1.2818.5%
      Movie $13.01$12.137.3%
      Bowling $10.00$18.0044.4%

      Groceries

      Item Joplin National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.78$5.841.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.38$1.5712.5%
      Milk $4.48$4.674.1%
      Potatoes $4.78$4.933.1%
      Pizza $10.46$12.0913.4%
      Beer $9.40$10.419.7%

      Health Care

      Item Joplin National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $98.94$125.6821.3%
      Doctor $140.26$135.783.3%
      Dentist $93.33$113.2917.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.07$10.655.5%
      Lipitor $369.04$468.6021.2%

      Housing

      Item Joplin National avg. Difference
      Home Price $125,400.00$184,700.0032.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,474.08$2,346.6937.2%
      Apartment Rent $774.00$949.0018.4%

      Transportation

      Item Joplin National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.11$3.4610.1%
      Tire Balancing $59.12$59.921.3%

      Utilities

      Item Joplin National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $218.93$193.9912.9%
      Phone $196.63$192.252.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Cliff Village, MO14946.2%
      Galena, KS2,8697822.4%
      Dennis Acres, MO577821.7%
      Redings Mill, MO1057921.1%
      Neck City, MO1997921.0%
      Joplin, MO50,5808712.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Collierville, TN50,59611616.0%
      Catalina Foothills, AZ50,63113636.1%
      Methuen Town, MA50,51813333.5%
      Hoffman Estates, IL50,46411918.7%
      Madison, AL50,7171088.1%
      Joplin, MO50,5808712.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.