Is St. Louis expensive to live in?

St. Louis is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $866 per month ranks #90 of 112 and is 20% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in St. Louis?

Average rent in St. Louis, MO runs a studio around $864, a one-bedroom around $866, a two-bedroom around $1,109, a three-bedroom around $1,135 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in St. Louis?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $866 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year. The median household income here is $55,279.

How much does it cost to live in St. Louis per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in St. Louis is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in St. Louis, MO

Population 293,109 · Missouri

~$1,030/mo est.1BR $866Home $185,100

Photo: Kawshar Ahmed / Unsplash

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The cost of living in St. Louis, MO is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $866 a month — 20% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $864 and two-bedrooms $1,109.

Median household income here is $55,279, 20% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,030 before food and transport. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $866

Studio

$864

1 Bedroom

$866

2 Bedroom

$1,109

3 Bedroom

$1,135

Buying a Home$185,100

Median Home Value

$185,100

Income$55,279

Median Household Income

$55,279

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,990

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities13.7¢/kWh

Electricity

13.7¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$24.13/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (MO)4.225% sales

State Sales Tax

4.22%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.70%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,372.9 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,372.9

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

5,794.9

FBI Crime Data Explorer, St. Louis Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.6 yrs

Median Age

36.6 yrs

Homeownership

45.4%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.2%

Avg Commute

22.2 min

Climate55.7°F

Avg Annual Temperature

55.7°F

Annual Precipitation

40.9 in

St. Louis cost of living — FAQ

Is St. Louis expensive to live in?: St. Louis is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $866 per month ranks #90 of 112 and is 20% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in St. Louis?: Average rent in St. Louis, MO runs a studio around $864, a one-bedroom around $866, a two-bedroom around $1,109, a three-bedroom around $1,135 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in St. Louis?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $866 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year. The median household income here is $55,279.
How much does it cost to live in St. Louis per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in St. Louis is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare St. Louis with nearby cities

St. Louis vs Evansville St. Louis vs Springfield St. Louis vs Indianapolis St. Louis vs Bowling Green St. Louis vs Kansas City St. Louis vs Aurora

Nearby cities

Evansville, IN 150 mi Springfield, MO 195 mi Indianapolis, IN 230 mi Bowling Green, KY 233 mi Kansas City, MO 238 mi Aurora, IL 238 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.