Is $60,000 a good salary in Missouri?

$60,000 in Missouri provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,961 after taxes. Across major Missouri cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,890.

What is the cost of living on $60,000 in Missouri?

The average monthly living cost across major Missouri cities is approximately $2,071 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $60,000 take-home pay of $3,961/month, you would have roughly $1,890/month remaining.

Living in Missouri · 2026

Is $60,000 enough to live in Missouri?

Single adult · MO · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,961

Avg monthly expenses

$2,071

Avg monthly surplus

$1,890

Savings potential

~48%

After-tax take-home in Missouri

Gross salary$60,000

Federal income tax− $5,094

State income tax− $2,787

Social Security− $3,720

Medicare− $870

Annual take-home$47,529

Effective tax rate20.79%

How $60,000 feels in Missouri cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Kansas City

COL index: 0.96× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$418

Transport

$168

Utilities

$158

Healthcare

$192

Total: $2,136/mo

Surplus: $1,825/mo

Rent burden: 30.3% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Kansas City analysis →

St Louis

COL index: 0.96× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$405

Transport

$168

Utilities

$158

Healthcare

$192

Total: $2,123/mo

Surplus: $1,838/mo

Rent burden: 30.3% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full St Louis analysis →

Springfield

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$396

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,871/mo

Surplus: $2,090/mo

Rent burden: 25.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Springfield analysis →

Columbia

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$409

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,199/mo

Surplus: $1,762/mo

Rent burden: 31.6% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Columbia analysis →

Independence

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $2,024/mo

Rent burden: 26.5% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Independence analysis →

Lee Summit

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $1,800/mo

Rent burden: 30.3% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Lee Summit analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,961 ($47,532/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,981

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$1,188

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$792

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$23,766

Wants / year

$14,260

Savings / year

$9,506

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Kansas City

Rent takes 30% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7.1/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $60,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Kansas City, Missouri, with approximately $1,825/month (~46% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Kansas City is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 0.96). $60,000 here is roughly equivalent to $115,625 in San Francisco or $55,000 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$60,000 is 53% above the Missouri individual median of $39,200 and 7% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$39,200

+53%

State household median

$67,716

-11%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$60,000 vs. Missouri income benchmarks

Individual median (Missouri)

$39,200

+53% vs. this salary

Household median (Missouri)

$67,716

-11% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Missouri

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.