Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 12% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$933
$864
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
1 Bedroom
$963
$866
+10% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,109
+2% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,135
+13% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$185,100
+11% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$55,279
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$49,990
+1% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.6 yr
+2.5 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
55.3%
45.4%
+9.9 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
40.2%
+6.0 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
24.3 min
22.2 min
+2.1 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
1,372.9
+47% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,351.7
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
53.2°F
55.7°F
+2.5°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
40.9 in
+1.5 in in Indianapolis, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
13.7
+25% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$24.13
+76% 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)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MO)
7%
4.225%
+2.8 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.70%
+1.8 pp in MO

Indianapolis vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or St. Louis?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).