| Index | Festus | Missouri | National |
| Cost of living | 92 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 83 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 95 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Festus can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Festus cost of living index is 92, which is 8% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
In Festus, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Festus will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Festus affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Festus, for instance, where the median home price falls 18.6% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 13.6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Festus flaunting a median household income of $88,995, 9.4% higher than the national norm.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Festus, the housing index comes in at 17.1% lower than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Festus, the transportation index is 1.9% lower than the national average.
The Festus cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $90,917 | $7,576 | $2,121 | $2,728 |
| Renters | $74,717 | $6,226 | $1,743 | $2,242 |
| 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. |
| Horine, MO | 1,133 | 83 | 17.4% |
| Fults, IL | 21 | 85 | 15.4% |
| Cedar Hill Lakes, MO | 354 | 84 | 15.6% |
| De Soto, MO | 6,612 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Olympian Village, MO | 779 | 88 | 12.0% |
| Festus, MO | 12,514 | 92 | 7.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Kelso, WA | 12,512 | 106 | 5.8% |
| View Royal, BC | 12,511 | n/a | |
| Escanaba, MI | 12,509 | 84 | 16.5% |
| Holiday City-Berkeley, NJ | 12,508 | 112 | 12.2% |
| Orange City, FL | 12,521 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Festus, MO | 12,514 | 92 | 7.7% |
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