Lamar, MO vs Steele, MO

Lamar, MO and Steele, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.7% difference in their overall index. Lamar scores 67 while Steele scores 64 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 Lamar is $830/month compared to $729/month in Steele — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Steele has cheaper rent, Lamar actually has lower median home values ($114,800 vs $115,900).

Median household income in Lamar is $34,894 compared to $33,750 in Steele (+3.4%). The higher salaries in Lamar partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lamar spend roughly 28.5% of their income on rent, more than the 25.9% in Steele.