Jefferson City, MO vs St. Joseph, MO

Jefferson City, MO and St. Joseph, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Jefferson City scores 71 while St. Joseph scores 69 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 Jefferson City is $766/month compared to $884/month in St. Joseph — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Jefferson City has cheaper rent, St. Joseph actually has lower median home values ($144,200 vs $208,000).

Median household income in Jefferson City is $67,205 compared to $55,578 in St. Joseph (+20.9%). While Jefferson City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Jefferson City spend roughly 13.7% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in St. Joseph.