Missouri landscape illustration
Rank #21 of 50

MissouriMoney Index August 2026

"Show-me steady savings."

The Frugal Powerhouse Midwest · MO Score 49

Midwest Money Profile

Missouri sits in the Midwest — and its personality is "The Frugal Powerhouse". Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.

Missouri — Money Index — Key Facts

  • Midwest Money Profile. Missouri sits in the Midwest — and its personality is "The Frugal Powerhouse". Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.
  • Affordability: 8/10. Missouri is one of the cheapest states in the union (8/10). A modest income here lives like a high one on the coasts.
  • Tax Friendliness: 6/10. Missouri's state income-tax burden (6/10) is middle-of-the-pack — not a haven, not punitive.
  • Inflation Resilience: 7/10. Missouri weathers inflation better than most (7/10) — paychecks here hold their purchasing power.
  • Banking Access: 7/10. Missouri scores 7/10 on banking access — fine for everyday accounts, worth shopping online HYSA rates to beat local offers.
  • Remote Work: 6/10. Missouri scores 6/10 for remote work — solid but not stand-out.
  • The Short Answer. Missouri is a balanced state for money — affordable, central.
  • Missouri Quirk. Missouri's affordable, central shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.
  • Retirement: 7/10. Missouri is workable for retirees (7/10) but not at the top of the pack.
  • Business Climate: 7/10. Missouri scores 7/10 on business climate with 6/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs.
See the full US state money rankingsMake More Money!
Tax friendliness
6/10
10 = no income tax
Affordability
8/10
10 = cheapest
Retirement
7/10
Tax + lifestyle
Business
7/10
Climate score
The short answer

Missouri is a balanced state for money — affordable, central.

On our 1-10 money scorecards, Missouri ranks 6/10 on tax friendliness, 8/10 on cost of living, and 7/10 on retirement — placing it #21 of 50 states overall.

The full picture

How Missouri scores across the board

Seven dimensions of household finance, scored 1-10. Higher is better in every category.

Tax friendliness6/10
Cost of living8/10
Retirement7/10
Business climate7/10
Banking competitiveness7/10
Inflation resilience7/10
Remote-work suitability6/10
Banking
7/10
Account access & rates
Inflation
7/10
Resilience score
Remote work
6/10
Laptop-class friendly
Overall
49
Rank #21/50
The vibe

Money personality: The Frugal Powerhouse

Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.

Did you know

Four Missouri money truths

State income tax: 6/10

Missouri's state income tax burden (6/10) is middle-of-the-pack — not a tax haven, not punitive.

Cost of living: 8/10

Cost of living scores 8/10 — Missouri is one of the cheapest states in the union, so a modest income lives like a high one elsewhere.

Retirement: 7/10

Retirement friendliness 7/10 — workable for retirees but not at the top of the pack.

Business climate: 7/10

Business climate 7/10 with 6/10 for remote work — moderate runway for entrepreneurs and laptop-class earners.

Surprising fact

"Missouri's affordable, central shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences."

Play the game

Money lessons from Missouri

  1. 1

    Cheap COL = automatic 20% savings rate if you keep coastal-city habits

  2. 2

    State tax policy is part of your investment strategy — not just where you live

See the full US state money rankings
Real questions

Missouri money FAQ

Is Missouri a good state for keeping your money?+

Missouri scores 49 on our composite money index, with a the frugal powerhouse profile. Missouri is a balanced state for money — affordable, central.

What is the state income tax in Missouri?+

Missouri's state income tax burden is roughly in the middle of the pack. On our 1-10 tax-friendliness scale (10 = no income tax), Missouri scores 6.

Is Missouri good for retirement?+

Missouri scores 7/10 on retirement friendliness, factoring in tax treatment of Social Security and pension income, healthcare costs, and overall affordability for fixed-income households.

Is Missouri good for business owners and remote workers?+

Missouri scores 7/10 on business climate and 6/10 on remote-work suitability — covering tax incentives, talent pools, infrastructure and cost of doing business.

How affordable is Missouri?+

Missouri scores 8/10 on cost of living (10 = cheapest). Combined with 7/10 inflation resilience, that shapes how far paychecks stretch here.

What money personality fits Missouri?+

The Frugal Powerhouse — Paychecks stretch further here — savings rates beat the national average effortlessly.

What's surprising about money in Missouri?+

Missouri's affordable, central shapes how residents save and invest — small policy choices compound into big lifestyle differences.

Nearby

Other Midwest states