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

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or St. Louis?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Eugene vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 13% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$864

+15% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$866

+20% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,109

+21% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,135

+32% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$185,100

+57% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$55,279

+13% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$49,990

+1% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

36.6 yr

+1.2 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

47.6%

45.4%

+2.2 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

40.2%

+4.0 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

22.2 min

+3.6 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

1,372.9

+330% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

3,348.9

5,794.9

+73% 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

52.5°F

55.7°F

+3.2°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

40.9 in

+5.2 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

13.7

+16% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$24.13

+17% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / MO)

None

4.225%

+4.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

4.70%

+5.2 pp in OR

Eugene vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or St. Louis?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).