States › Missouri › Imperial

Is Imperial, MO expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,5999% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$97,095about $8,091/month · 12% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$228,70031% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 53% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (92.6%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $63,960 a year. That is $31 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Missouri cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Missouri. It is number 107 of 142 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Imperial
$1,599
Glasgow Village
$1,418
Macon
$909
Waynesville
$1,887
Trenton
$777
Odessa
$1,199
St. Robert
$1,202

How much do households earn in Imperial?

Under $25k
5.2%
$25k–50k
25.4%
$50k–100k
35.7%
$100k–150k
20.8%
$150k+
8.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 29.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Imperial overall?

Everyday prices in Missouri overall are 9% below the U.S. average (index 90.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
70
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
79
Other services
95
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Imperial, so the Missouri figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Imperial

🏛️ Property tax$2,095a year · 0.92% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$190a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Imperial

Commute to work24.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree21.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home92.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Imperial?

About the same. Renting and owning cost within $12 of each other each month.

Renting
$1,599
Owning
$1,587

Owning assumes a typical $228,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,870 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Imperial, MO?

Renting in Imperial costs a median of about $1,599 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Missouri median is $1,285.

How much do I need to make to live in Imperial?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $63,960 a year, or $31 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Imperial cheap or expensive?

Imperial is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.8% of the typical household income of $97,095. It ranks 107th cheapest of 142 Missouri cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Imperial?

The median homeowner in Imperial pays $2,095 a year in property taxes, about 0.92% of the median home value.

Is Imperial more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Missouri are 9% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Imperial?

The median home value in Imperial is $228,700, about 2.4 times the typical yearly household income.

5,488 people live in Imperial. Numbers are typical (middle) values.