Cost of Living in St. Louis, MO
How much does it cost to live in St. Louis? This page covers rent, median home prices, property taxes, income taxes, and the salary you need to live comfortably — with a calculator to compare St. Louis against other cities.
St. Louis cost of living snapshot
Is St. Louis expensive to live in?
In most cities, housing drives the biggest part of the cost of living. Rent, mortgage size, insurance, and property taxes all affect how much flexibility you have left after monthly essentials.
In St. Louis, the real question is not just what homes or apartments cost on paper, but how those costs compare with local salary levels and your take-home pay after state and federal income taxes. A city can feel manageable at one income level and extremely tight at another.
Use the calculator below to compare St. Louis against other major cities and see whether your income would stretch further somewhere else, or whether staying put still makes financial sense.
St. Louis is roughly 13% less expensive than New York City.
What salary do you need to live in St. Louis?
Salary targets matter because "affordable" means different things at different income levels. Someone renting conservatively may manage on a tighter budget, while someone trying to save, invest, or buy later may need a much larger buffer.
That is why the guidance above shows a tighter, target, and comfort range — giving you a simple way to think about what salary may feel barely workable versus what creates real breathing room month to month.
Based on the current rent estimate for St. Louis, a salary around $60,000 is a reasonable starting point for most renters, while a salary closer to $64,286 may leave more room for savings and unexpected costs.
How St. Louis rent compares to other cities
Frequently asked questions about St. Louis
- What is the cost of living in St. Louis?
- The cost of living in St. Louis is driven primarily by housing, state income taxes, and transportation. The average rent estimate is $1,500 per month. Use the calculator on this page to see a full monthly budget breakdown based on your income.
- What salary do you need to live comfortably in St. Louis?
- Based on current rent estimates, a salary of around $60,000 is a reasonable target for most renters in St. Louis. A salary closer to $64,286 provides more room for savings, emergencies, and discretionary spending.
- Is St. Louis a good place to move for affordability?
- It depends on where you are moving from and what your income is. Use the comparison links above to see how St. Louis stacks up against other major cities on rent, taxes, and take-home pay side by side.
- How does MO state income tax affect take-home pay in St. Louis?
- State income tax is one of the biggest factors in how far your salary goes. The calculator on this page applies MO state tax rules to your income so you can see your actual take-home pay, not just your gross salary.