Cost of Living in St. Joseph, MO
| Cost of Living in St. Joseph, MO | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 2% higher | 17% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 2% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 7% lower | 10% lower |
| Transportation | 2% lower | 5% lower |
| Goods & Services | 5% higher | 1% lower |
The cost of living in St. Joseph, MO is 2% higher than the state average and 7% lower than the national average. St. Joseph, MO housing is 17% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% cheaper in St. Joseph, MO than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 10% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% cheaper in St. Joseph, MO.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in St. Joseph is $1,320, while home prices circle around $449,862.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In St. Joseph, energy bills cost around $217.83 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.53 in St. Joseph, a dozen eggs go for around $5.51 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.01.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In St. Joseph, an optometry check-up costs around $96.69, while a dentist appointment is priced $103.61 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.02 in St. Joseph, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $54.16.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $41.79 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.93.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in St. Joseph, you should budget around $13.80 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.52, while dry cleaning costs about $16.19.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In St. Joseph, the median household income is $55,578.