| Index | Poplar Bluff | Missouri | National |
| Cost of living | 86 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Housing | 60 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 95 | 100 |
The cost of living in Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Poplar Bluff are 40.1% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 8 residents in Poplar Bluff to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 25% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 75% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Wondering if Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff, for example, the median home price is 43.2% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 32.7% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Poplar Bluff boasting a median household income of $53,468, which is 34.3% lower than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Poplar Bluff, the housing index is 40.1% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Poplar Bluff, healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Poplar Bluff, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 4.225%, and income tax rates start at 2%.
The Poplar Bluff 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.
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| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $72,166 | $6,014 | $1,684 | $2,165 |
| Renters | $29,801 | $2,483 | $695 | $894 |
| 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. |
| Harviell, MO | 0 | 94 | 5.6% |
| Oxly, MO | 102 | 68 | 32.2% |
| Neelyville, MO | 292 | 76 | 24.5% |
| Williamsville, MO | 346 | 79 | 20.9% |
| Qulin, MO | 965 | 79 | 21.1% |
| Poplar Bluff, MO | 17,570 | 86 | 14.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Wayne, MI | 17,566 | 87 | 12.7% |
| Springfield, TN | 17,576 | 94 | 5.9% |
| East Cleveland, OH | 17,563 | 80 | 20.2% |
| Islip, NY | 17,559 | 139 | 39.5% |
| South Ogden, UT | 17,591 | 106 | 6.2% |
| Poplar Bluff, MO | 17,570 | 86 | 14.1% |
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