Missouri vs Illinois: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Missouri or Illinois?
- Overall, Illinois is 10.1% more expensive than Missouri (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Missouri works out to about $82,500 in Illinois, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 7.8% higher and other services 5.2% higher in Illinois, while housing is 34.4% higher.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $60,333 in Illinois and $57,850 in Missouri (4.3% higher in Illinois; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 88.4 in Decatur, IL to 103.6 in Chicago, IL (Illinois) and from 85.7 in Joplin, MO to 95.1 in St. Louis, MO (Missouri), US = 100.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Illinois was 7.5% more expensive than Missouri.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Missouri and Illinois
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Missouri
- Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.8 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 103.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 69.9 | 93.9 |
| Utilities | 79.4 | 85.0 |
| Other services | 95.2 | 100.2 |
| Category | Missouri | Illinois | Illinois vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.8 | 100.0 | +10.1% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 103.8 | +7.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 69.9 | 93.9 | +34.4% |
| Utilities | 79.4 | 85.0 | +7.0% |
| Other services | 95.2 | 100.2 | +5.2% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $57,850 | $60,333 | +4.3% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.14 | $4.14 | 0.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Missouri | $75,000 | $82,500 | +10.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Midwest region average (EIA has no separate Missouri figure). *Midwest region average (EIA has no separate Illinois figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Missouri
- Joplin, MO 85.7
- Cape Girardeau, MO 86.1
- St. Joseph, MO 86.4
- Jefferson City, MO 88.0
- Springfield, MO 88.6
- Columbia, MO 89.4
- Kansas City, MO 92.5
- St. Louis, MO 95.1
Illinois
- Cape Girardeau, MO 86.1
- Paducah, KY 86.1
- Decatur, IL 88.4
- Davenport, IA 89.1
- Peoria, IL 91.2
- Rockford, IL 92.2
- Champaign, IL 92.7
- Springfield, IL 92.7
- Bloomington, IL 93.5
- St. Louis, MO 95.1
- Kankakee, IL 96.4
- Chicago, IL 103.6
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Missouri and Illinois has narrowed since 2008: 11.9 points then, 9.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Missouri
- Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.4 | 100.3 |
| 2009 | 90.5 | 101.6 |
| 2010 | 93.1 | 101.8 |
| 2011 | 92.5 | 102.0 |
| 2012 | 92.4 | 100.9 |
| 2013 | 92.8 | 100.2 |
| 2014 | 93.4 | 99.7 |
| 2015 | 92.3 | 98.9 |
| 2016 | 91.7 | 99.5 |
| 2017 | 91.7 | 100.3 |
| 2018 | 91.8 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 92.5 | 99.5 |
| 2020 | 92.2 | 100.3 |
| 2021 | 92.0 | 101.3 |
| 2022 | 91.0 | 101.2 |
| 2023 | 91.1 | 98.8 |
| 2024 | 90.8 | 100.0 |
Goods
- Missouri
- Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.4 | 99.4 |
| 2009 | 91.5 | 101.7 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 102.2 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 102.6 |
| 2012 | 95.8 | 101.1 |
| 2013 | 96.8 | 99.9 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 100.5 |
| 2015 | 97.4 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 98.2 |
| 2017 | 96.0 | 100.1 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 101.5 |
| 2019 | 98.2 | 102.8 |
| 2020 | 99.0 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 98.5 | 103.7 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 102.7 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 101.6 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 103.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Missouri
- Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 73.2 | 103.0 |
| 2009 | 72.4 | 103.9 |
| 2010 | 74.5 | 105.0 |
| 2011 | 74.6 | 104.2 |
| 2012 | 73.6 | 102.3 |
| 2013 | 75.0 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 73.3 | 102.8 |
| 2015 | 73.2 | 103.3 |
| 2016 | 72.3 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 70.6 | 99.9 |
| 2018 | 70.4 | 99.2 |
| 2019 | 70.9 | 97.7 |
| 2020 | 70.3 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 70.1 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 69.3 | 94.1 |
| 2023 | 70.5 | 92.4 |
| 2024 | 69.9 | 93.9 |
Utilities
- Missouri
- Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 78.4 | 94.2 |
| 2009 | 83.0 | 89.9 |
| 2010 | 87.2 | 90.8 |
| 2011 | 88.7 | 90.1 |
| 2012 | 89.6 | 87.0 |
| 2013 | 87.9 | 81.3 |
| 2014 | 83.1 | 88.4 |
| 2015 | 88.0 | 89.4 |
| 2016 | 85.2 | 89.7 |
| 2017 | 90.0 | 91.4 |
| 2018 | 92.7 | 91.8 |
| 2019 | 92.8 | 83.9 |
| 2020 | 93.6 | 84.7 |
| 2021 | 91.6 | 86.1 |
| 2022 | 83.8 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 85.6 | 80.4 |
| 2024 | 79.4 | 85.0 |
Other services
- Missouri
- Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.6 | 100.5 |
| 2009 | 96.9 | 101.6 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 101.3 |
| 2011 | 97.1 | 101.6 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 101.3 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 98.3 | 99.0 |
| 2015 | 95.7 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 95.6 | 100.2 |
| 2017 | 96.3 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 96.5 | 100.6 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 96.0 | 101.4 |
| 2021 | 95.3 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 94.9 | 103.0 |
| 2023 | 94.4 | 99.8 |
| 2024 | 95.2 | 100.2 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $60,333 in Illinois, $57,850 in Missouri
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Missouri
- Illinois
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Missouri | Illinois | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $47,118 | $48,377 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $45,179 | $45,534 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $43,946 | $45,770 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $44,799 | $46,640 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $45,817 | $48,199 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $45,192 | $48,770 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $45,700 | $50,191 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $47,620 | $52,761 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $48,744 | $52,619 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $48,930 | $53,045 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $49,929 | $54,837 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $50,660 | $56,192 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $54,269 | $58,809 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $56,869 | $60,683 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $55,467 | $57,980 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $56,912 | $60,348 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $57,850 | $60,333 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Missouri
- Cost of living in Illinois
- Reverse: moving from Illinois to Missouri
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.