Cool Valley, MO vs St. James, MO

Cool Valley, MO and St. James, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. Cool Valley scores 69 while St. James scores 66 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cool Valley is $932/month compared to $814/month in St. James — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. James has cheaper rent, Cool Valley actually has lower median home values ($94,700 vs $117,200).

Median household income in Cool Valley is $50,417 compared to $50,644 in St. James (-0.4%). St. James offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cool Valley spend roughly 22.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.3% in St. James.