Cost of living by state
Weighing a move? Compare any two states side by side — cost of living, taxes, and demographics — and see what a physician, NP, or PA salary is really worth once it's adjusted for local prices. Green means cheaper or better; red means pricier or worse.
Overall cost of living
Missouri is 3.4% more expensive overall than Iowa.
What a physician's take-home is really worth
Median pay → estimated after-tax take-home → adjusted for each state's cost of living.
Iowa
- Median pay
- $273,160
- After tax
- $187,339
$213,370worth here
Missouri
- Median pay
- $237,330
- After tax
- $164,152
$180,784worth here
Take-home is an estimate for a single filer taking the standard deduction (federal + FICA + state income tax, wages only) — not tax advice.
| Metric | Iowa | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US avg = 100) | ||
| Overall cost of living | 87.8 | 90.8 |
| Housing (rent) | 65.3 | 69.9 |
| Utilities | 83.3 | 79.4 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 95.2 |
| Taxes | ||
| Top income tax rate | 3.80% | 4.70% |
| Sales tax (avg) | 6.94% | 8.41% |
| Property tax (effective) | 1.23% | 0.88% |
| About the state | ||
| Population | 3,195,937 | 6,168,181 |
| Median household income | $73,147 | $68,920 |
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.9 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.50% | 67.90% |
| Median home value | $195,900 | $215,600 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024) · U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Tax Foundation. Figures are the latest published; cost-of-living is a price-level index, not tax-adjusted take-home pay.
Browse all state profiles
VitalPost shows sourced, public data for context only — it isn't financial or tax advice. Cost-of-living is a price-level index (US average = 100); taxes shown are statewide/averaged and don't capture local income or the specifics of your situation.