F
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
86%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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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 Wildwood Missouri National
Cost of living12288100
Goods & Services9292100
Groceries9795100
Health care8990100
Housing18678100
Transportation9491100
Utilities10299100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Wildwood, MO

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Wildwood is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Wildwood is 122, which is 22% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Wildwood may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Wildwood falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Wildwood cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 86.2% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Wildwood Affordable?

Wondering if Wildwood is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Wildwood, for example, the median home price is 108% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 35.3% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Wildwood boasting a median household income of $135,177, which is 144.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Wildwood?

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 Wildwood, the utilities index registers at 1.7% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Wildwood, the housing index is 86.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Wildwood cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Wildwood is 38% higher than the Missouri average
  • The cost of living in Wildwood is 22% higher than the national average
  • Wildwood housing is 86% higher 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 Wildwood

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Compare Wildwood, MO Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$138,674$11,556$3,236$4,161
      Renters$62,321$5,193$1,454$1,870
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Wildwood is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Wildwood has a median income of about $138,674 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $3,236 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $62,321. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,454 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Wildwood National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.19$24.2612.7%
      Beauty Salon $40.57$45.5611.0%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.11$1.2813.3%
      Movie $11.28$12.137.1%
      Bowling $16.92$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item Wildwood National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.40$5.849.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.36$1.5713.3%
      Milk $4.50$4.673.7%
      Potatoes $5.28$4.936.9%
      Pizza $10.84$12.0910.3%
      Beer $9.47$10.419.1%

      Health Care

      Item Wildwood National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.72$125.680.0%
      Doctor $124.51$135.788.3%
      Dentist $100.78$113.2911.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.14$10.654.8%
      Lipitor $520.16$468.6011.0%

      Housing

      Item Wildwood National avg. Difference
      Home Price $384,200.00$184,700.00108.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,737.43$2,346.6926.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,284.00$949.0035.3%

      Transportation

      Item Wildwood National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $50.00$59.9216.6%

      Utilities

      Item Wildwood National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $133.84$193.9931.0%
      Phone $188.69$192.251.9%
      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.
      Defiance, MO68945.9%
      Champ, MO3945.9%
      Peaceful Village, MO926732.5%
      Lake Tekakwitha, MO2708119.2%
      Grayhawk, MO7858118.6%
      Wildwood, MO35,47612221.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Oswego, IL35,47011414.3%
      Richmond, IN35,4678119.1%
      Inver Grove Heights, MN35,49211010.2%
      Mount Vernon, WA35,50212222.5%
      West Hollywood, CA35,50618282.0%
      Wildwood, MO35,47612221.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.