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 19% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.

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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Louis?

Columbus 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).

Columbus vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 15% higher in Columbus, OH. 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.

Columbus, OH

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,014

$864

+15% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$1,059

$866

+18% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,276

$1,109

+13% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,369

$1,135

+17% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$234,500

$185,100

+21% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income

$65,327

$55,279

+15% in Columbus, OH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

$49,990

+3% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

36.6 yr

+3.6 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

44.3%

45.4%

+1.1 pp in St. Louis, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

40.2%

+2.0 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

21.8 min

22.2 min

+0.4 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.2

1,372.9

+183% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

3,093.9

5,794.9

+87% 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

40.1 in

40.9 in

+0.8 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.94/gal

+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

13.7

+30% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$24.13

+6% 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 (OH / MO)

5.75%

4.225%

+1.5 pp in OH

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

4.70%

+2.0 pp in MO

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 19% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
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 $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or St. Louis?: Columbus 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).