Lake Ozark, MO vs St. John, MO

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. St. John is 15.8% cheaper than Lake Ozark. With a cost index of 76 vs 88, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from St. John to Lake Ozark should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lake Ozark is $1,017/month compared to $1,153/month in St. John — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lake Ozark has cheaper rent, St. John actually has lower median home values ($96,900 vs $308,700).

Median household income in Lake Ozark is $80,476 compared to $50,429 in St. John (+59.6%). While Lake Ozark is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lake Ozark spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, less than the 27.4% in St. John.