Cost of Living (St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia: appointed, buy, calculator)

[MOviaCA]

Recently, I have been doing comparisons with Missouri and California in particular the Sacramento area verse the Springfield,Columbia and Branson areas. I understood fuel and housing were vastly different but it seems like food and utilities are too. Ive been using this site COL calculator and various other web ones to get an idea. My question is are these reasonably accurate? Is it really 30% more expensive to live in Sacramento vs those Missouri areas?

An example today I went grocery shopping. I purchased a 1/2 gallon of milk and it was 2.90 or some chicken drumsticks that were 2.29 lb. When I visit this summer I think Ill be heading to the grocery stores to do some comparison shopping

[STLCardsBlues1989]

MO is cheap to live in for the most part. 30% might be possible.

[aragx6]

I don't pay super close attention to specific prices, but I don't know that of those two things, it's much cheaper in MO. Maybe penny pinchers can answer that better though.

[MOviaCA]

Thanks, I was just curious. According to the COL calculators groceries in various MO areas are up to 20% cheaper.

[firebll31]

I believe it's true except for things we can't grow here, like fresh seafood. But remember our wages tend to be lower also, lots of factory jobs in the $7-$8/hour range. That kind of cancels out the grocery savings. My husband has an exceptionally high paying production job (explosives) and I am an x-ray tech (18 years experience) almost at top of the pay scale and we don't yet break the $100,000 mark. Gas in Carthage is $2.89 right now. I'll go shopping later and give you some prices for comparison!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

You can also grow cotton, corn, wheat, probably most common crops in Missouri. The weather's also decent for cows and goats and sheep.

[photobuff42]

The COL says its about 24% cheaper to live in St. Louis than Las Vegas. Most of the savings is in housing.

[firebll31]

O.K. here's some current figures straight from Wal-mart( I know, but sadly it's the most convenient choice) in SW MO-
1/2 gallon skim extra milk-$2.15
gallon of same 3.89
jiffy muffin mix .36
Weight Watchers frozen meal 2.24
big Listerine mouthwash 5.87
case caffeine-free diet Coke 6.98
great value navy beans .78
1/2 ham 3.47/lb
smoked ham hocks 1.27/lb

hope that helps a little- I do buy fresh veggies, but usually in the summer from the Farmer's Market.

[MOviaCA]

Thank you very much for taking the time fireball. Having ham and bean soup eh? yum

[firebll31]

Originally Posted by MOviaCA

Thank you very much for taking the time fireball. Having ham and bean soup eh? yum

with cornbread, of course. I tried a mustard green dish last night, since we are trying to incorporate more healthful foods into our meals. It wasn't too bad and my hubby gave it a thumbs up. I can't wait till summer with all the fresh local veggies. Last year a late spring snow demolished the fruit crops and I didn't get my tree-ripened peaches from Marionville. I was very disappointed. Maybe this year!