A+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
40%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Poplar Bluff Missouri National
Cost of living8288100
Goods & Services9592100
Groceries9595100
Health care7790100
Housing6078100
Transportation8891100
Utilities8999100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Poplar Bluff, MO

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 82, which is 18% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Poplar Bluff stands out by reporting housing costs that are 40% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Poplar Bluff?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Poplar Bluff. The results indicated that 25% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 75% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Poplar Bluff Affordable?

Is Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff, the median home price is 43.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 31.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Poplar Bluff come in at $35,603, which is 35.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Poplar Bluff?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Poplar Bluff, the housing index is 40% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Poplar Bluff, the groceries index is 5.2% 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 Poplar Bluff, the transportation index is 11.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Poplar Bluff, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Poplar Bluff is 7% lower than the Missouri average
  • The cost of living in Poplar Bluff is 18% lower than the national average
  • Poplar Bluff housing is 40% lower than the national average
  • Missouri general sales tax is 17% lower than the national average
  • Missouri state income tax is 34% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Poplar Bluff

See all the best places to live around Poplar Bluff

Compare Poplar Bluff, MO Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$48,623$4,052$1,134$1,459
      Renters$20,107$1,676$469$603
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Poplar Bluff is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Poplar Bluff has a median income of about $48,623 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,134 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $20,107. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $469 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Missouri Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Missouri 4.225% 10.85%

      Missouri Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Missouri 1.5% 5.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Poplar Bluff National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.59$24.266.9%
      Beauty Salon $43.68$45.564.1%
      Toothpaste $3.59$3.703.0%
      Shampoo $1.06$1.2817.4%
      Movie $13.11$12.138.1%
      Bowling $14.38$18.0020.1%

      Groceries

      Item Poplar Bluff National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.34$5.848.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.38$1.5712.4%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.3%
      Potatoes $5.34$4.938.3%
      Pizza $11.64$12.093.7%
      Beer $10.04$10.413.6%

      Health Care

      Item Poplar Bluff National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.05$125.6810.1%
      Doctor $121.20$135.7810.7%
      Dentist $93.91$113.2917.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.17$10.654.5%
      Lipitor $454.83$468.602.9%

      Housing

      Item Poplar Bluff National avg. Difference
      Home Price $104,300.00$184,700.0043.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,005.46$2,346.6914.5%
      Apartment Rent $646.00$949.0031.9%

      Transportation

      Item Poplar Bluff National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.12$3.469.9%
      Tire Balancing $51.88$59.9213.4%

      Utilities

      Item Poplar Bluff National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $163.75$193.9915.6%
      Phone $204.07$192.256.1%
      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 Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Harviell, MO0928.0%
      Oxly, MO996634.0%
      Neelyville, MO2857426.2%
      Williamsville, MO3367624.3%
      Qulin, MO9367723.1%
      Poplar Bluff, MO16,9798217.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      La Marque, TX16,983918.9%
      Ojus, FL16,9721088.0%
      Lake Mary, FL16,98712221.6%
      Edmundston, NB16,970n/a 
      Islip, NY16,96514039.5%
      Poplar Bluff, MO16,9798217.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.