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

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or St. Louis?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Boston vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 42% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$864

+54% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$866

+56% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,109

+49% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,135

+49% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$185,100

+74% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$55,279

+42% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$49,990

+25% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

36.6 yr

+3.4 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

35.4%

45.4%

+10.0 pp in St. Louis, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

40.2%

+13.9 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

22.2 min

+8.0 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

1,372.9

+118% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

2,030.8

5,794.9

+185% 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

51.5°F

55.7°F

+4.2°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

40.9 in

+2.8 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$3.94/gal

+0% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

13.7

+53% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$24.13

+23% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Boston, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Boston, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / MO)

6.25%

4.225%

+2.0 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

4.70%

+4.3 pp in MA

Boston vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or St. Louis?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).