2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Columbia, MO vs Poplar Bluff, MO

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Poplar Bluff or is it cheaper to live in Columbia?
- Poplar Bluff is 17.9% less expensive than Columbia.

Which city has more affordable housing, Poplar Bluff or Columbia?
- Poplar Bluff housing costs are 46.4% less expensive than Columbia housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Columbia or is Health Care more affordable in Poplar Bluff.
- Health related expenses are 3.0% less in Poplar Bluff.
 Columbia, MOPoplar Bluff, MOUnited States
 Overall  Unlock73.9100
 Food & Groceries98.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.1100
 Housing78.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$142,000$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock58.4100
 Miscellaneous101.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Columbia    41 Reviews

If you are an active person and love to be outdoors and go to college sporting events, Columbia is a great place to live! I run and bike and go to Mizzou events a lot. I  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

I've live in CoMo for 20 yrs. NOT sure about this state of the art water park??!! There are great parks but nothing else for families. NO zoo, museum, and definitely no  More

   |    Reply

I lived there for a year and hated every minute. Columbia reminded me of the San Francisco of the Midwest. It is overrun with homeless people. Law enforcement is  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Columbia

Reviews for Poplar Bluff    4 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

The people here are what makes this town. Most are nice and friendly if talked to. When we bought our home here 7 years ago we were immediately accepted by our  More

   |    Reply

Poplar Bluff is smack dab in the middle of the country. A smallish town that seems to buffer the highs and lows of economics and continues to make modest growth. It is  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

Poplar Bluff is a good place to raise a family, especially if you are politically conservative and religious. The cost of living is very low on virtually every category  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Poplar Bluff


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.