A+
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
51%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Jennings Missouri National
Cost of living8088100
Goods & Services9394100
Groceries9996100
Health care89100100
Housing4977100
Transportation9087100
Utilities9492100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Jennings, MO

Understanding the cost of living in Jennings can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Jennings cost of living index is 80, which is 20% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Jennings housing costs are 51.3% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Jennings residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

Is Jennings Affordable?

Is Jennings an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Jennings is 66% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 17.1% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Jennings has a median household income of $48,228, which is 40.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Jennings?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Jennings, is 51.3% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Jennings, healthcare costs are 10.6% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Jennings, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Jennings is 9% lower than the Missouri average
  • The cost of living in Jennings is 20% lower than the national average
  • Jennings housing is 51% lower than the national average
  • Missouri general sales tax is 17% lower than the national average
  • Missouri state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Jennings

See all the best places to live around Jennings

Compare Jennings, MO Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$71,112$5,926$1,659$2,134
      Renters$32,625$2,719$761$979
      The affordability of the housing market in Jennings, MO as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Jennings homeowners, the median income is $71,112. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,659 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $32,625. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $761 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Missouri Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Missouri 4.225% 10.85%

      Missouri Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Missouri 2% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Jennings National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.69$27.6217.8%
      Beauty Salon $41.19$51.1119.4%
      Toothpaste $4.04$4.091.3%
      Shampoo $1.72$1.5411.5%
      Movie $12.89$12.880.1%
      Yoga $20.35$19.663.5%

      Groceries

      Item Jennings National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.84$7.701.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.51$1.669.2%
      Milk $4.75$4.730.4%
      Potatoes $5.24$5.260.3%
      Pizza $11.32$12.7611.3%
      Beer $9.85$10.556.6%

      Health Care

      Item Jennings National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $104.21$140.0625.6%
      Doctor $103.31$153.8232.8%
      Dentist $117.88$123.154.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.82$11.730.8%
      Lipitor $23.43$23.610.8%

      Housing

      Item Jennings National avg. Difference
      Home Price $110,970.00$326,622.0066.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,007.41$2,480.2519.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,197.00$1,444.0017.1%

      Transportation

      Item Jennings National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.97$3.062.9%
      Tire Balancing $47.61$65.2127.0%

      Utilities

      Item Jennings National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $193.81$220.1212.0%
      Phone $204.58$195.714.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Champ, MO3946.3%
      Brooklyn, IL4457327.3%
      East St. Louis, IL27,0337623.7%
      Alorton, IL2,1497723.4%
      East Carondelet, IL3307723.4%
      Jennings, MO15,2598019.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sunset, FL15,25913535.3%
      Mercier, QC15,257n/a 
      Hobe Sound, FL15,2541066.0%
      Mount Vernon, IL15,2508218.3%
      Tonawanda, NY15,2438812.0%
      Jennings, MO15,2598019.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.