States › Missouri › West Plains

Is West Plains, MO expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 3 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$10994% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$47,456about $3,955/month · 45% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$169,90049% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $4,360 a year. That is $2 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Missouri cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Missouri. It is number 1 of 142 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West Plains
$109
Crestwood
$2,195
Fulton
$1,040
Union
$1,056
St. Ann
$1,115
Branson
$930
Jennings
$1,301

How much do households earn in West Plains?

Under $25k
29.3%
$25k–50k
26.0%
$50k–100k
31.6%
$100k–150k
5.5%
$150k+
2.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 8.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West Plains

SizeWest PlainsU.S. average
Studio$313$1,338
1 bedroom$379$1,324
2 bedrooms$905$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,064$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is West Plains 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 West Plains, so the Missouri figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West Plains

🏛️ Property tax$930a year · 0.55% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$160a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West Plains

Commute to work21.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree17.1%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home52.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line28.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Plains?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,070 a month less.

Renting
$109
Owning
$1,179

Owning assumes a typical $169,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $16,990 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West Plains, MO?

Renting in West Plains costs a median of about $109 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Missouri median is $1,285.

How much do I need to make to live in West Plains?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $4,360 a year, or $2 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West Plains cheap or expensive?

West Plains is rated Cheap: rent takes 2.8% of the typical household income of $47,456. It ranks 1st cheapest of 142 Missouri cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West Plains?

The median homeowner in West Plains pays $930 a year in property taxes, about 0.55% of the median home value.

Is West Plains 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 West Plains?

The median home value in West Plains is $169,900, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

12,441 people live in West Plains. Numbers are typical (middle) values.