CostIndexUSA

Flint, MI vs Joplin, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Joplin
85.7
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Joplin is moderately cheaper than Flint — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Flint, you would need $73,700 in Joplin. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.0%
Flint
74
Joplin
54
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Flint
93.7
Joplin
94.2
🚗 Transportation6.5%
Flint
104.5
Joplin
97.7
🏥 Healthcare6.6%
Flint
94.6
Joplin
88.4
Utilities11.5%
Flint
97.1
Joplin
85.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Joplin, MO
$73,700
$6,300 less needed in Joplin

Formula: salary × (85.7 ÷ 93) = salary × 0.9215. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Joplin, MO

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

Flint has 27.0% lower housing costs compared to Joplin.

Income & Job Market

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Joplin, MO

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Joplin, MO
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.