Cost of Living in Missouri: Updated Prices, Other States Comparison

Missouri is a beautiful landlocked state located in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It provides a wonderful environment to its students in education, business, health and sports. If you are thinking of higher studies in Missouri then you need to know the cost of living in Missouri per month for a single person.

Missouri has top-notch universities that provide safe and pleasant environments to its students. Before moving to Missouri, students need to understand the recent updates on the cost of living in Missouri. In this blog, we will discuss the average cost of living in Missouri in detail as well as other necessary expenses. Without further ado, let’s discuss the average cost of living in Missouri in detail.

Cost of Living in Missouri

The cost of living in Missouri is around USD 1,972 including rent according to the livingcost. The living expenses in Missouri can differ according to a person’s preferences, budget and lifestyle they follow. The cost of living in Missouri is 1.11 times lower than the average cost of living in the United States, and it ranks 37th among the most costly states to live in and 19th among the best places to live in the United States. 

The cost of living relies on some essential factors, such as accommodation costs, food & grocery prices, utility cost, public transportation costs, and a few others. Here are some essential expense categories you need to know about how much they contribute to the cost of living in Missouri:

Also Read: Cost of Living in Cardiff: House Rent, Food, Expenses [2024]

Costs of Accommodation in Missouri

Suppose you go for a one-bedroom apartment around the city area in Missouri. In that case, it can cost around USD 1161 per month for an area of 40 square metres, while if you opt for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre area, it can cost around USD 968 per month according to livingcost. The location and size of the apartment is a deciding factor of its cost.

The housing costs cover a considerable portion of the cost of living in Missouri. By looking at the table below, you can comprehend the average housing cost in Missouri and how much it contributes to Missouri’s total living expense budget:

Apartment	Location	Monthly Approx Cost
Single-Bedroom Apartment 40 m2	City Centre	USD 1161
Three -bedrooms Apartment 80 m2	City Centre	USD 2278
Single-bedroom Apartment 40 m2	Outside the Centre	USD 968
Three -bedrooms Apartment 80 m2	Outside the Centre	USD 1913

Cost of a Utility in Missouri

While living in an apartment, basic amenities like electricity, water, heating, garbage disposal etc. are very important. People in Missouri spend about USD 126 per month on basic utilities. For your convenience, in the below table, we have given some basic utility costs in Missouri. Please see and make your budget accordingly:

Utility Type	Average Monthly Cost
Basic Utility for an apartment (Water, Electricity, Heating)	USD 126
Internet Plan (50 Mbps+, 1 month Unlimited Data)	USD 65

Restaurant Food Costs in Missouri 

Missouri restaurants are famous for toasted ravioli, Provel cheese, BBQ, charcuterie, pastries and many other delicious dishes. Whether you want to dine at a restaurant or enjoy its street food, Missouri has something for every food lover. The average cost of a lunch menu at an affordable restaurant in Missouri is around USD 17.2 and the average cost of a meal at a restaurant for 2 people is around USD 58.6. For a cup of Cappuccino coffee, you will have to pay around USD 5 which is affordable for anyone.

Cost of Grocery in Missouri

If you are a student then cooking food at home is a good thought because it will save you a lot of money and if you go out to eat or order food online it can be costly for you and the cost of living in Missouri Can affect the budget.

Furthermore, in Missouri, you need to consider a grocery budget as it is a basic and important part of the cost of living in Missouri. For your convenience, the average cost of groceries in Missouri is shown in the table below:

Grocery Item	Approx Cost
Milk (regular), (1 litre)	USD 0.99
Oranges (1kg)	USD 4.82
Apples (1kg)	USD 4.92
Banana (1kg)	USD 1.61
Potato (1kg)	USD 2.53
Tomato (1kg)	USD 4.81
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	USD 1.39
Onion (1kg)	USD 2.66
Cheese (1kg)	USD 11.7
Rice (white), (1kg)	USD 3.73
Eggs (regular) (12)	USD 3.16
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	USD 2.85

Also Read: Cost of Living in Cambodia: A Guide on Expected Expenses

Transportation Costs in Missouri 

There are various modes of transportation in Missouri like Taxis & Shuttles, Ferries, Mass Transportation Systems, Bus Transportation, Railways, and Tramways. Typically, a local transit ticket in Missouri costs around USD 2.16. However, public transportation costs in Missouri depend on the type of service you choose and how far you travel.

In the average cost of living in Missouri, transportation costs cover a significant portion. For your consideration, below we have outlined the moderate cost of transportation in Missouri and it will give you an estimation of ​​how much you need to budget for transportation:

Mode of Transport	Approx Monthly Cost
Local Transport Ticket	USD 2.16
Monthly ticket for local transport	USD 60.1
Taxi ride for 5km	USD 17.8 (Normal Tariff)
Gasoline	USD 0.85 per litre

Miscellaneous Costs in Missouri

Apart from the above range of expense categories of cost of living in Missouri, there are some miscellaneous costs that you need to know before moving there because, after some time in extra time, you will need them in Missouri apart from study and job.

We’ve provided a variety of data covering miscellaneous costs in Missouri, such as the cost of sports, entertainment, and apparel. Please take a look at the table below and you can also add them to your living expenses budget.

Miscellaneous Catagory	Average Costs
Fitness Club, for a month	USD 43.9
Doctor’s visit	USD 101
Cinema 1 person	USD 12.1
Branded Jeans	USD 50.5
Brand Sneakers	USD 82.3

Cost of Living in Missouri Compared to Other States

In general, the average cost of living in Missouri is lower than the national average and if we compare Missouri to many other states in the US, it also offers a fairly affordable cost of living with plenty of opportunities for higher education, work, and amusement.

For your reference, we have given a comparison between the monthly total cost of living in Missouri and other cities like Texas, Florida, California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Utah, Colorado, and Ohio so that you can understand how affordable Missouri is. Please have a look and understand the expenses accordingly:

Cost of living city-wise	Approx Costs	Comparison Cost of Living in Missouri
Cost of Living in Texas	USD 2117	Higher than Missouri
Cost of Living in Florida	USD 2502	Higher than Missouri
Cost of Living in California	USD 2893	Higher than in Missouri
Cost of Living in Michigan	USD 1903	Lower than Missouri
Cost of Living in Wisconsin	USD 1998	Higher than Missouri
Cost of Living in Illinois	USD 2280	Higher than Missouri
Cost of Living in Tennessee	USD 2125	Higher than Missouri
Cost of Living in Utah	USD 1963	Approximately equal to Missouri
Cost of Living in Colorado	USD 2456	Higher than Missouri
Cost of Living in Ohio	USD 1877	Lower than Missouri

Average Cost of Tuition Fees in Missouri

Missouri’s universities are world-renowned and some of its prestigious universities are listed in the QS and THE rankings, making it the most suitable destination for international students for higher studies. The main expense for International students who want to study in Missouri is university tuition fees. 

The average cost of tuition fees at Missouri universities can differ according to the preferred program and the level of education a student wants to pursue. Searching for the average education fees in universities in Missouri is a daunting task for a candidate. That’s why we are here, in the following table we have given the moderate tuition fees at some universities in Missouri. Please take a look.

Name of University in Missouri	Approx Tuition Fees per year
Washington University in St. Louis	USD 62,982
Saint Louis University	USD 53,244
University of Missouri	USD 34,322
Missouri University of Science and Technology	USD 31,862
Maryville University of St. Louis	USD 27,166
University of Missouri – St. Louis	USD 64,862
University of Missouri – Kansas City	USD 30,734
Missouri State University	USD 17,144

Conclusion: Missouri offers a good quality of life to international students at a lower cost than many other states in the United States. It offers diverse natural beauty, strong educational institutions, quality of life and a vibrant cultural scene, making it an attractive place to study and live.

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FAQs on Cost of Living in Missouri

So, this was all about the cost of living in Missouri. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.