Living Cost Compare
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 31% higher in Los Angeles, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Los Angeles, CA
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,468
$864
+41% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,688
$866
+49% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,148
$1,109
+48% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,489
$1,135
+54% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$879,500
$185,100
+79% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$80,366
$55,279
+31% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$49,990
+10% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.9 yr
36.6 yr
+0.3 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
36.3%
45.4%
+9.1 pp in St. Louis, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
40.2%
+2.4 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
31.1 min
22.2 min
+8.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
730.3
1,372.9
+88% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
1,501.4
5,794.9
+286% 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
67.0°F
55.7°F
+11.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
21.2 in
40.9 in
+19.7 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.7
+59% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.13
+16% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MO)
7.25%
4.225%
+3.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.70%
+8.6 pp in CA

Los Angeles vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Los Angeles or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in Los Angeles versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Los Angeles or St. Louis?
Los Angeles is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).