Living Cost Compare
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT versus $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 3% 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.

New Haven, CT
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,159
$864
+25% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$866
+32% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,473
$1,109
+25% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,636
$1,135
+31% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$249,000
$185,100
+26% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,771
$55,279
+3% in St. Louis, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,060
$49,990
+17% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
36.6 yr
+4.7 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
28.4%
45.4%
+17.0 pp in St. Louis, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
40.2%
+2.5 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
21.0 min
22.2 min
+1.2 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
536.3
1,372.9
+156% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,601.6
5,794.9
+61% 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
52.2°F
55.7°F
+3.5°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
47.1 in
40.9 in
+6.2 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
16.2
+33% in New Haven, 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 New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in New Haven, 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

New Haven vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or St. Louis?
New Haven 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).