St. Joseph, MO vs Wildwood, MO

The cost of living difference between St. Joseph, MO and Wildwood, MO is dramatic. St. Joseph is 42.1% cheaper than Wildwood, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. St. Joseph has a cost index of 69 while Wildwood sits at 120, 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 St. Joseph is $884/month compared to $1,575/month in Wildwood — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Joseph is more affordable at $144,200 median vs $472,800.

Median household income in St. Joseph is $55,578 compared to $157,750 in Wildwood (-64.8%). While Wildwood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Joseph spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, more than the 12% in Wildwood.