CostIndexUSA

Joplin, MO vs McAllen, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMO
Joplin
85.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
TX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Joplin and McAllen have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+3.5%
Joplin
54
McAllen
55.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Joplin
94.2
McAllen
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
Joplin
97.7
McAllen
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Joplin
88.4
McAllen
91.4
Utilities5.5%
Joplin
85.9
McAllen
81.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Joplin to see what you'd need to earn in McAllen to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in McAllen, TX
$80,200
$200 more needed in McAllen

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 85.7) = salary × 1.0023. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Joplin, MO

Median Home Price
$216,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
54
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.4×

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

McAllen has 3.5% higher housing costs compared to Joplin.

Income & Job Market

Joplin, MO

Median Household Income
$57,900
Per Capita Income
$33,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
50,843
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Joplin, MO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

McAllen, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.