Jefferson City, Missouri
Living in Jefferson City, Missouri is about 28% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 72 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,010 a month, 48% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.67 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 32% of the area's $75,355 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.67
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,010
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$8.46
Combo meal
Electricity
16.02¢
per kWh · ~$144/mo
Car Insurance
$165/mo
$1,980/yr
Median Household Income
$75,355
31.7% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,980 in Jefferson City. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,010/mo in Jefferson City. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.49 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.89 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$5.29 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$3.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$3.69 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.49 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$4.72 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$9.49 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$4.77 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$2.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$4.44 estimate
$3.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.13 estimate
$3.79 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.49 estimate
$5.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$5.58 estimate
$5.00 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
Frozen Pizza
$7.71 estimate
$4.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.49 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.89 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$5.29 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$3.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$3.69 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.49 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$4.72 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$9.49 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.31 | $4.77 | +44.1% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$2.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$3.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $3.88 | $4.44 | +14.4% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$1.79 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.79 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.88 | $7.13 | +46.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$5.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $3.62 | $4.49 | +24.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate$5.00 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.31 | $5.58 | +29.5% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$4.99 @ Gerbes - Eastland Gerbes Super Store (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.56 | $7.71 | +38.7% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$8.46
Casual Dining
$16.56
Monthly Spend
$277.03
+3.22% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $5.25
$8.46
+61.1%Wendy's
2022: $5.92
$9.14
+54.4%Chipotle
2022: $6.35
$9.48
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $3.08
$4.28
+39.0%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Jefferson City?
Average 1BR: $828/mo · 2BR: $1,192/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
4k
Median Weekly Pay
$973
$51k/yr
Top Sector
Construction
Household vs Worker Pay
$75k
household median
Employment by Sector — Jefferson City
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$63k/yr
~$49k/yr
~$57k/yr
~$29k/yr
~$13k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 29151
Highest Paying Sector
Construction
$1,220/wk · $63k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$246/wk · $13k/yr
Jefferson City Cost of Living FAQ
Is Jefferson City, MO expensive to live in?
Jefferson City has a cost of living index of 72, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 28% cheaper than average. It is the most affordable of the 8 Missouri cities we track.
What is the average rent in Jefferson City, MO?
Typical rent in Jefferson City is $1,010 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 48% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $828 and two bedrooms about $1,192. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Jefferson City?
Rent in Jefferson City rose 6.3% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Jefferson City?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.67 a gallon in Jefferson City as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Missouri. That is 8% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Jefferson City?
Homes in Missouri pay an average of 16.0 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Jefferson City is about $144.
How much is car insurance in Jefferson City?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,980 a year in Missouri, or about $165 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Jefferson City?
Median household income in the Jefferson City area is $75,355 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $23,875 a year, or 32% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Jefferson City compare with the rest of Missouri?
Rent in Jefferson City is 19% below the $1,242 average across the 8 Missouri cities we track, and its cost of living index of 72 compares with a state average of 86.
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