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

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark 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 Newark versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or St. Louis?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Newark vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 12% higher in St. Louis, MO. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$864

+22% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$866

+11% in Newark, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,109

+20% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,135

+33% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$185,100

+45% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$55,279

+14% in St. Louis, MO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$49,990

+19% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

36.6 yr

+1.8 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

24.1%

45.4%

+21.3 pp in St. Louis, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

40.2%

+22.8 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

33.2 min

22.2 min

+11.0 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

1,372.9

+136% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

1,961.8

5,794.9

+195% 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

54.9°F

55.7°F

+0.8°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

40.9 in

+5.3 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in St. Louis, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

13.7

+41% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$24.13

+51% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / MO)

6.625%

4.225%

+2.4 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

4.70%

+6.0 pp in NJ

Newark vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Newark, NJ's $1,210, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark 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 Newark versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or St. Louis?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).