Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 1% higher in Columbia, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$802
$864
+8% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$866
+16% in Columbia, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,109
+5% in Columbia, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,135
+15% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$185,100
+24% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$55,279
+1% in Columbia, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$49,990
+8% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
36.6 yr
+7.9 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
47.3%
45.4%
+1.9 pp in Columbia, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
40.2%
+5.9 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
22.2 min
+4.8 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
1,372.9
+78% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,265.1
5,794.9
+77% 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
64.9°F
55.7°F
+9.2°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
40.9 in
+4.5 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Columbia, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
16.2
+4% in St. Louis, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$28.78
+1% in Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC
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
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / MO)
6%
4.225%
+1.8 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.70%
+1.3 pp in SC

Columbia vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or St. Louis?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).