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Missouri

Moderate tax burden · COL index 86

Wins 7 categories

VS

California

High tax burden · COL index 142

Wins 5 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).

Missouri
California

Taxes

4.7%
Income Tax (top rate)
13.3%
0.88%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.71%/yr
8.33%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.82%
No
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

86
COL Index (100=avg)
142
$240K
Median Home Price
$790K
$1,100/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,300/mo
$2K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

581
Violent Crime / 100K
499
2,695
Property Crime / 100K
2,027

Healthcare

#43 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#13 of 50
75.3 yrs
Life Expectancy
79.2 yrs
8.2%
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#33 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#20 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$1,050/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,200/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$130/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$175/mo
$430/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$620/mo
#23 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#49 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
A
R+19.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+20.0

Category wins

7

Missouri

5

California

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

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People Also Ask

Is it cheaper to live in California or Missouri?

Overall cost of living in Saint Louis, MO is 18.5% lower than in Bakersfield, CA. The average listing price for a home in Saint Louis, MO is $424,572, which is 18.2% lower than Bakersfield, CA. The average cost of groceries in Saint Louis, MO is 6.2% lower than Bakersfield, CA.

Can you live comfortably on $70,000 a year in California?

Is $70k Enough to Live in Los Angeles? A $70,000 salary in Los Angeles is enough to get by, but you'll need to be strategic. LA is one of the most expensive cities in the U.S., and while $70K sounds solid, it often lands just under what's considered a "comfortable" income for solo renters.

Is Missouri, USA a good place to live?

Centrally located in the heart of the Midwest, Missouri combines a low cost of living with a thriving job market, outdoor recreation, and a vibrant cultural scene. Whether you're looking for a bustling urban environment, small-town charm, or wide open spaces, Missouri has plenty of diverse regions to choose from.

Is $100,000 low income in California?

And still be classified as lowincome nowhere is that more pronounced than in Santa Clara. County where people making under $111,700. A year are now defined. As low income. If you make $111,000.

Full Missouri Profile →Full California Profile →

Your Priorities

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Annual Income

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Social Security

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My Property Is Worth

$400K
Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

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Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

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City vs Country

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Sunshine

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Food Scene

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Political Preference

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Gun Laws

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Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

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Community

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Sports & Entertainment

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Cannabis Laws

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Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

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Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

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Singles sceneFamily community