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

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Phoenix than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or St. Louis?

Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Phoenix vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 28% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Phoenix, AZ

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$864

+23% in Phoenix, AZ

1 Bedroom

$1,253

$866

+31% in Phoenix, AZ

2 Bedroom

$1,493

$1,109

+26% in Phoenix, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,771

$1,135

+36% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$381,900

$185,100

+52% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$77,041

$55,279

+28% in Phoenix, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,380

$49,990

+3% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

36.6 yr

+1.8 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

57.1%

45.4%

+11.7 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.3%

40.2%

+7.9 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

25.7 min

22.2 min

+3.5 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

799.6

1,372.9

+72% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

2,338.9

5,794.9

+148% 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

75.1°F

55.7°F

+19.4°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

8.2 in

40.9 in

+32.8 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

13.7

+10% in Phoenix, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.44

$24.13

+8% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / MO)

5.6%

4.225%

+1.4 pp in AZ

Income Tax (top rate)

2.50%

4.70%

+2.2 pp in MO

Phoenix vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Phoenix than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or St. Louis?: Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).