| Index | Clayton | Missouri | National |
| Cost of living | 151 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 277 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 95 | 100 |
The cost of living in Clayton affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Clayton is 151, which is 51% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Clayton may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Clayton falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Clayton, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 176.5% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Wondering if Clayton is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Clayton, for example, the median home price is 235.7% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 38.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Clayton boasting a median household income of $164,109, which is 101.8% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Clayton, the groceries index registers 1.2% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Clayton, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 4.225%, and income tax rates kick off at 2%.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Clayton, the housing index stands at 176.5% higher than the national average.
The Clayton cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $266,293 | $22,191 | $6,213 | $7,990 |
| Renters | $99,530 | $8,294 | $2,322 | $2,986 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Missouri | 4.225% | 10.85% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Missouri | 2% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Champ, MO | 3 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Peaceful Village, MO | 95 | 69 | 31.1% |
| Brooklyn, IL | 445 | 74 | 26.2% |
| East St. Louis, IL | 27,033 | 77 | 22.5% |
| Alorton, IL | 2,149 | 78 | 22.3% |
| Clayton, MO | 17,205 | 151 | 51.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Cohoes, NY | 17,198 | 105 | 5.2% |
| Danville, KY | 17,223 | 92 | 8.1% |
| Dallas, OR | 17,229 | 113 | 12.7% |
| Sikeston, MO | 17,170 | 90 | 9.8% |
| Easton, MD | 17,240 | 118 | 17.7% |
| Clayton, MO | 17,205 | 151 | 51.0% |
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