Festus, MO vs Mountain Grove, MO

The cost of living difference between Festus, MO and Mountain Grove, MO is dramatic. Mountain Grove is 40.3% cheaper than Festus, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Festus has a cost index of 79 while Mountain Grove sits at 56, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Festus is $935/month compared to $548/month in Mountain Grove — a 71% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mountain Grove is more affordable at $89,300 median vs $206,200.

Median household income in Festus is $70,085 compared to $41,875 in Mountain Grove (+67.4%). While Festus is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Festus spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, more than the 15.7% in Mountain Grove.