Carl Junction, MO vs Houghton, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Houghton, MI has a modeled overall cost index 4.9% lower than Carl Junction, MO.

Carl Junction, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$1,200 / month
Houghton, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,120 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Carl Junction, MO and Houghton, MI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $162/month in Houghton, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,053 in Houghton, MI

Regional cost estimates: Carl Junction, MO uses Tulsa, OK. Houghton, MI uses Saint Paul, MN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.9%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$162
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.9K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Carl Junction, MO

Population:8K
Cost Index:
79.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$246K

Houghton, MI

Population:9K
Cost Index:
75.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$256K

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Carl Junction, MO

The Show-Me State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Houghton, MI

The Great Lakes State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Carl Junction, MO vs Houghton, MI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 18.8%
Carl Junction, MO
$1,892
Houghton, MI
$1,535
Difference
$356
less
Housing
↑ 12.3%
Carl Junction, MO
$1,929
Houghton, MI
$2,166
Difference
$236
more
Transportation
↓ 12.5%
Carl Junction, MO
$1,405
Houghton, MI
$1,228
Difference
$176
less
Healthcare
↑ 27.4%
Carl Junction, MO
$623
Houghton, MI
$794
Difference
$171
more
All Utilities
↓ 7.2%
Carl Junction, MO
$575
Houghton, MI
$534
Difference
$41.68
less
Groceries
↑ 0.5%
Carl Junction, MO
$1,076
Houghton, MI
$1,081
Difference
$5.06
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$960
To$910
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$970
To$920
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,120
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,570
To$1,560
↓ $10.00
Carl Junction, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/mo

Houghton, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $920–$920/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Carl Junction, MO
$7,338
Monthly in Houghton, MI
$162
Difference

Home Values

Carl Junction
Houghton
$246K
Median Value
$256K
↑ +0.4%
YoY Change
↑ +9.8%
↑ +38%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.5%

Homes in Houghton are 4% more expensive than Carl Junction

Calculate payment - Carl JunctionCalculate payment - Houghton

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$130
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.0%
Rate difference

Carl Junction, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Houghton, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Carl Junction, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

Houghton, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Carl Junction
Houghton
51 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
48.4%
Good Air Days
72.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
95 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.7°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
14 days

Before moving from Carl Junction, MO to Houghton, MI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Houghton, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Carl Junction, MO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Carl Junction to Houghton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Houghton, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Carl Junction, MO vs Houghton, MI

How do the cost estimates for Carl Junction, MO and Houghton, MI compare?

Houghton, MI has a modeled overall cost index 4.9% lower than Carl Junction, MO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Carl Junction, MO, the model estimates $148,053 in Houghton, MI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Carl Junction, MO and Houghton, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,200/month in Carl Junction, MO and $1,120/month in Houghton, MI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Missouri and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com

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