Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or St. Louis?

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Augusta, GA's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Augusta or St. Louis?

Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Augusta vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Augusta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 4% higher in St. Louis, MO. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Augusta, GA

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$784

$864

+10% in St. Louis, MO

1 Bedroom

$916

$866

+5% in Augusta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,035

$1,109

+7% in St. Louis, MO

3 Bedroom

$1,230

$1,135

+8% in Augusta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$162,900

$185,100

+14% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$53,134

$55,279

+4% in St. Louis, MO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,990

$49,990

+9% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

36.6 yr

+1.7 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

50.9%

45.4%

+5.5 pp in Augusta, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

24.2%

40.2%

+16.0 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

20.6 min

22.2 min

+1.6 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

546.7

1,372.9

+151% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

3,652

5,794.9

+59% in St. Louis, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.2°F

55.7°F

+9.5°F in Augusta, GA

Annual Precipitation

46.5 in

40.9 in

+5.6 in in Augusta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in St. Louis, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.8

13.7

+14% in Augusta, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.28

$24.13

+27% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Louis, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Augusta, GA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Louis, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MO)

4.225%

+0.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

4.70%

+0.5 pp in GA

Augusta vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Augusta, GA's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or St. Louis?: Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).