Poplar Bluff, MO vs New Castle, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

New Castle, IN has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% higher than Poplar Bluff, MO.

Poplar Bluff, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$900 / month
New Castle, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 Poplar Bluff, MO and New Castle, IN 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

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Estimated extra cost: $320/month in New Castle, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,844 in New Castle, IN

Regional cost estimates: Poplar Bluff, MO uses Memphis, TN. New Castle, IN uses Indianapolis, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$320
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.8K
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.

Poplar Bluff, MO

Population:16K
Cost Index:
76.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$162K

New Castle, IN

Population:17K
Cost Index:
81.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$160K

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Poplar Bluff, MO

The Show-Me State

16K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 16K residents.

New Castle, IN

The Hoosier State

17K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Poplar Bluff, MO vs New Castle, IN

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.

Housing
↑ 11.7%
Poplar Bluff, MO
$1,859
New Castle, IN
$2,077
Difference
$218
more
Healthcare
↑ 13.7%
Poplar Bluff, MO
$627
New Castle, IN
$713
Difference
$86.06
more
Transportation
↑ 1.1%
Poplar Bluff, MO
$1,392
New Castle, IN
$1,407
Difference
$15.54
more
All Utilities
↓ 2.5%
Poplar Bluff, MO
$631
New Castle, IN
$615
Difference
$15.51
less
Other
↑ 0.5%
Poplar Bluff, MO
$1,874
New Castle, IN
$1,883
Difference
$8.94
more
Groceries
↑ 0.7%
Poplar Bluff, MO
$1,118
New Castle, IN
$1,125
Difference
$7.31
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$660
To$770
↑ $110
1 Bed
From$690
To$780
↑ $90.00
2 Bed
From$900
To$960
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,150
↓ $50.00
Poplar Bluff, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $690–$690/mo

New Castle, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Poplar Bluff, MO
$7,820
Monthly in New Castle, IN
$320
Difference

Home Values

Poplar Bluff
New Castle
$162K
Median Value
$160K
↑ +6%
YoY Change
↑ +2.3%
↑ +35.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.6%

Homes in New Castle are 1% less expensive than Poplar Bluff

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $3.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$257
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.1%
Rate difference

Poplar Bluff, 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

New Castle, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Additional Tax Information

Poplar Bluff, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

New Castle, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Poplar Bluff
New Castle
55 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
34.4%
Good Air Days
36.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Poplar Bluff, MO to New Castle, IN

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in New Castle, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Poplar Bluff, 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 Poplar Bluff to New Castle moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to New Castle, IN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Poplar Bluff, MO vs New Castle, IN

How do the cost estimates for Poplar Bluff, MO and New Castle, IN compare?

New Castle, IN has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% higher than Poplar Bluff, 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 Poplar Bluff, MO, the model estimates $153,844 in New Castle, IN. 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 Poplar Bluff, MO and New Castle, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $900/month in Poplar Bluff, MO and $960/month in New Castle, IN. 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 Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com

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