2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Joplin, MO vs Ames, IA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Ames or is it cheaper to live in Joplin?
- Ames is 13.3% more expensive than Joplin.

Which city has more affordable housing, Ames or Joplin?
- Ames housing costs are 101.1% more expensive than Joplin housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Joplin or is Health Care more affordable in Ames.
- Health related expenses are 15.6% more in Ames.
 Joplin, MOAmes, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock87.6100
 Food & Groceries94.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock120.8100
 Housing44.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$239,100$338,100
 Utilities103  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock67.2100
 Miscellaneous69.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Joplin    22 Reviews

Wow, this content is dated. Here's an update on Joplin: The Joplin community is rapidly becoming an affordable, livable version of the urban lifestyle that offers  More

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Over 10 years ago

Joplin is inexpensive to live in however humidity is through the roof if you have a roof due to the threat of tornados here. Winters are mild but usually instead of  More

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Over 12 years ago

Winter lasts about 4 months and is fairly cold. Mostly cloudy and dreary with very little if any snow. Spring lasts about 6 weeks and has plenty of rain. Summer lasts  More

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Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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