California
Moderate tax burden · COL index 142
Wins 8 categories
Missouri
Moderate tax burden · COL index 86
Wins 7 categories
California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs Missouri's 4.7%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 65% higher than Missouri (index 86). The median home in California costs $790K vs $240K in Missouri. Politically, Missouri voted Republican in 2024 (R+19.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).
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Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
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Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
8
California
7
Missouri
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Is it cheaper to live in Missouri or California?
Overall cost of living in Saint Louis, MO is 41.2% lower than in Los Angeles, CA. The average listing price for a home in Saint Louis, MO is $426,395, which is 68.3% lower than Los Angeles, CA. The average cost of groceries in Saint Louis, MO is 10.9% lower than Los Angeles, CA.
What are the drawbacks of living in Missouri?
Can you live comfortably on $70,000 a year in California?
Why is Missouri the best state to live in?