Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.
Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 6% higher in St. Louis, MO. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Cincinnati vs St. Louis — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or St. Louis?
- They're close. Cincinnati, OH runs about $1,030 a month and St. Louis, MO about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in St. Louis?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
- Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or St. Louis?
- Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).