Springfield beats Missouri in cost-of-living report

Springfield’s cost of living fared better than the state as a whole in 2019, according to data released this morning by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Among six participating Missouri cities, Springfield ranked No. 2 behind Joplin, according to a news release. Missouri was No. 5 in the nation, behind Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico.

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 86, compared with 81.6 for Joplin. Springfield’s lowest score was in housing, at 67.4; followed by transportation, at 86.3; utilities, at 87.4; miscellaneous, at 94.2; health care, at 96.6; and groceries, at 97.1.

By cost-of-living index score, the Missouri cities are:
• Joplin, 81.6;
• Springfield, 86;
• St. Louis, 87.6;
• Jefferson City, 88.6;
• Columbia, 91.5; and
• Kansas City, 95.5.