Joplin tops Springfield in cost-of-living analysis

The latest cost-of-living survey results from the Council for Community & Economic Research is out, and Springfield again ranked below Joplin.

Springfield was No. 2 among major Missouri cities, and the Show-Me State had the eighth lowest cost of living in the nation during the third quarter, according to a news release from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, which published the data.

On a 100-point scale — the lower the score, the better — representing the lowest cost of living in the United States, Springfield’s total was 87.3, up from 85.3 in the second quarter. Missouri’s third quarter score of 89.1 also was up from 88.3 earlier in the year. Joplin, which also beat Springfield in the second quarter, had a third quarter score of 82.9.

By cost-of-living index score, the Missouri cities are:
• Joplin, 82.9;
• Springfield, 87.3;
• St. Louis, 87.7;
• Jefferson City, 89.4;
• Columbia, 91.3; and
• Kansas City, 96.

Springfield performed best in housing, with a 68.6 score. Additionally, it scored 85.8 in utilities, 86.9 in transportation, 97.6 in health care, 97.9 in miscellaneous and 99 in groceries, according to the release.

During the first quarter, Greene County had the lowest wages among the largest areas in Missouri, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.