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

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Chicago or St. Louis?

Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).

Chicago vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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.

Chicago, IL

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,186

$864

+27% in Chicago, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,258

$866

+31% in Chicago, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,406

$1,109

+21% in Chicago, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,554

$1,135

+27% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$315,200

$185,100

+41% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$75,134

$55,279

+26% in Chicago, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$49,990

+9% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

36.6 yr

+0.9 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

45.5%

45.4%

+0.1 pp in Chicago, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

43.3%

40.2%

+3.1 pp in Chicago, IL

Avg Commute

33.5 min

22.2 min

+11.3 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

539.8

1,372.9

+154% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

3,489.9

5,794.9

+66% 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

52.7°F

55.7°F

+3.0°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

38.0 in

40.9 in

+3.0 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

13.7

+43% in Chicago, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$24.13

+57% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / MO)

6.25%

4.225%

+2.0 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

4.70%

+0.3 pp in IL

Chicago vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or St. Louis?: Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).