| Index | Gladstone | Missouri | National |
| Cost of living | 93 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 87 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 95 | 95 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Gladstone? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Gladstone stands at 93, making it 7% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Gladstone are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Gladstone can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Is Gladstone an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Gladstone, the median home price is 17.3% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 3.2% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Gladstone come in at $94,380, which is 16% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Gladstone starts at 4.225% and the income tax rates start at 2%.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Gladstone, the transportation index is 4.2% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
The cost of living data for Gladstone shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $110,268 | $9,189 | $2,573 | $3,308 |
| Renters | $66,169 | $5,514 | $1,544 | $1,985 |
| 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. |
| River Bend, MO | 9 | 96 | 3.7% |
| Mosby, MO | 112 | 82 | 17.8% |
| Ferrelview, MO | 622 | 82 | 18.1% |
| Randolph, MO | 29 | 84 | 15.8% |
| Missouri City, MO | 525 | 84 | 16.3% |
| Gladstone, MO | 28,101 | 93 | 6.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Citrus Park, FL | 28,085 | 117 | 17.4% |
| Plum, PA | 28,078 | 99 | 1.5% |
| Millville, NJ | 28,134 | 106 | 6.2% |
| Wakefield, MA | 28,061 | 158 | 57.8% |
| Lake Jackson, TX | 28,060 | 103 | 3.5% |
| Gladstone, MO | 28,101 | 93 | 6.5% |