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

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Louis?

Columbus 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).

Columbus vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 2% higher in Columbus, GA. 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.

Columbus, GA

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$826

$864

+5% in St. Louis, MO

1 Bedroom

$875

$866

+1% in Columbus, GA

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,109

+12% in St. Louis, MO

3 Bedroom

$1,221

$1,135

+7% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$182,300

$185,100

+2% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$56,622

$55,279

+2% in Columbus, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,540

$49,990

+15% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

36.6 yr

+1.5 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

50.2%

45.4%

+4.8 pp in Columbus, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.7%

40.2%

+10.5 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

20.2 min

22.2 min

+2.0 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

612.3

1,372.9

+124% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

2,273.4

5,794.9

+155% 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

65.7°F

55.7°F

+10.0°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

46.8 in

40.9 in

+5.8 in in Columbus, 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 Columbus, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.28

$24.13

+27% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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

Columbus vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Louis?: Columbus 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).