Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 18% higher in St. Louis, MO. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$973
$864
+11% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$866
+17% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,109
+14% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,135
+21% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$185,100
+15% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$55,279
+22% in St. Louis, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$49,990
+17% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
36.6 yr
+3.2 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
25.7%
45.4%
+19.7 pp in St. Louis, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
40.2%
+21.9 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
22.2 min
+0.6 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
1,372.9
+160% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,949.2
5,794.9
+96% 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
51.2°F
55.7°F
+4.5°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
40.9 in
+2.7 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Hartford, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
16.2
+33% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$28.78
+23% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / MO)
6.35%
4.225%
+2.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
4.70%
+2.3 pp in CT

Hartford vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford 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 Hartford versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or St. Louis?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).