Cost Of Living In Carthage, MO

Carthage cost of living index

In the event that the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used. Each cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. If the amount is below 100, it is lower than the national average. If the amount is above 100, it is higher than the national average.
Index	Carthage	Missouri	National
Cost of living index	83	91	100
Index	Carthage	Missouri	National
Goods & Services index	88	95	100
Groceries index	90	97	100
Health care index	91	97	100
Housing index	58	79	100
Transportation index	94	93	100
Utilities index	121	104	100

The above illustration supplies generalized information for the Carthage, MO cost of living index. Compared to other cities in Missouri and cities across the country, the cost of living index in Carthage, MO is 83, which is 9% lower than the Missouri average and 17% lower than that for the entire country. The index is comprised of the following criteria: cost of retail goods and services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), cost of public/private transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). Everyday goods and services, along with housing account for 63 percent of the total cost of living index. Goods and services that are a necessity regardless of location provide an accurate general sense of the cost of living in one city versus another. As seen above, the cost of retail goods and services in Carthage, MO are 8% lower than the average for Missouri and 13% lower than the rest of the country.

Did you know?

The cost of living in Carthage is 9% lower than the Missouri average.
The cost of living in Carthage is 17% lower than the national average.
The cost of housing in Carthage is 42% lower than the national average.
Missouri general sales tax is 17% lower than the national average.
Missouri state income tax is 33% lower than the national average.

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Salary Calculator

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Cost of living index
Goods & Services index
Groceries index
Health care index
Housing index
Transportation index
Utilities index

Using the salary calculator lets you compare the salary you earn in Carthage, MO to what it is in other cities. It will let you know what your earnings would have to be in another city to have the same standard of living, as determined by the cost of living in each city. For example, if the cost of living in the area you want to move to is higher than the cost of living in Carthage, MO, you have to earn a higher income in order to still have the same standard of living. To operate the Carthage, MO salary calculator, put in the name of the other city, then move the slider to the point that represents the current income. The salary calculator will take care of the rest and tell you how much more or less you must earn in the new city. A Total breakdown of the cost of living is also provided.

Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

Median Income	Per Year	Per Month	Max Budget (28% DTI)	Max Budget (36% DTI)
Owners	$46,158	$3,847	$1,077	$1,385
Renters	$21,762	$1,814	$508	$653

How much of your monthly income goes to housing can tell you whether or not you can afford housing in Carthage, MO, as well as what the average cost of living is. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payment and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Carthage, MO homeowners have a median income of $46,158. Using that number, you will come up with a maximum of $1,077 per month that can be spent on the cost of housing. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $21,762, which means there is a maximum of $508 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

Missouri Sales Tax

State	General Sales Tax	With Max Surtax
Missouri	4.225%	9.35%

Missouri Income Tax

State	Income Tax (Low)	Income Tax (High)
Missouri	1.5%	6%

The Missouri sales tax and Missouri income tax rates should definitely be considered when determining the overall cost of living in Carthage, MO. Sales taxes are taxes that are imposed onto goods and services sold. Sales taxes do vary by state and can range from no tax at all to upwards of 7%. The Missouri sales tax is 4.225% and the maximum surtax is 9.35%. Income tax is the tax imposed on income by the government. The income tax rates will vary by state and will also increase or decrease depending on the corresponding tax bracket. State income tax rates can range from anywhere from no tax at all to more than 9%. The Missouri income tax rates range from 1.5% to 6%.

Goods & Services

Item	Carthage	National avg.	Difference
Haircut	$15.94	$15.56	2.4%
Beauty Salon	$23.11	$36.11	36.0%
Toothpaste	$2.05	$2.47	17.2%
Shampoo	$0.93	$0.96	4.0%
Movie	$12.06	$10.13	19.1%
Bowling	$3.50	$4.74	26.1%

Groceries

Item	Carthage	National avg.	Difference
Ground Beef	$4.25	$3.98	6.6%
Fried Chicken	$1.32	$1.41	6.4%
Milk	$2.10	$2.06	1.9%
Potatoes	$2.55	$2.98	14.4%
Pizza	$9.00	$9.47	5.0%
Beer	$8.62	$8.79	2.0%

Health Care

Item	Carthage	National avg.	Difference
Optometrist	$93.60	$101.04	7.4%
Doctor	$105.33	$107.44	2.0%
Dentist	$77.73	$90.42	14.0%
Ibuprofen	$6.71	$9.28	27.7%
Lipitor	$425.83	$426.50	0.2%

Housing

Item	Carthage	National avg.	Difference
Home Price	$89,400.00	$175,700.00	49.1%
Avg. Mortgage Payment	$755.34	$1,133.23	33.3%
Apartment Rent	$673.00	$920.00	26.8%

Transportation

Item	Carthage	National avg.	Difference
Gasoline	$1.71	$1.99	14.3%
Tire Balancing	$51.34	$45.76	12.2%

Utilities

Item	Carthage	National avg.	Difference
All Electricity	$185.51	$163.81	13.2%
Phone	$37.89	$28.39	33.5%

Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

Nearby cities with low cost of living

City, State	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Reeds, MO	76	75	-25%
Golden City, MO	689	76	-24%
Jasper, MO	997	78	-22%
Neck City, MO	223	79	-21%
Wentworth, MO	105	79	-21%
Carthage, MO	14,281	83	-17%

Cities with similar population

City, State	Population	Cost of Living Index	National Avg.
Ewa Beach, HI	14,291	164	64%
Powder Springs, GA	14,271	97	-3%
Setauket-East Setauket, NY	14,293	156	56%
Villa Rica, GA	14,266	93	-7%
Beech Grove, IN	14,301	80	-20%
Carthage, MO	14,281	83	-17%

Source: The Carthage, MO cost of living data displayed above is derived from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) for the fourth quarter of 2016.

Carthage, MO Cost of Living