Living Cost Compare
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA versus $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,671 in Richmond, VA and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 12% higher in Richmond, VA. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Richmond, VA
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,183
$864
+27% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,195
$866
+28% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,109
+19% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,447
$1,135
+22% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$328,100
$185,100
+44% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$62,671
$55,279
+12% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,460
$49,990
+3% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.5 yr
36.6 yr
+2.1 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
43.5%
45.4%
+1.9 pp in St. Louis, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.1%
40.2%
+3.9 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
22.1 min
22.2 min
+0.1 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
349
1,372.9
+293% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,240.2
5,794.9
+79% 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
58.9°F
55.7°F
+3.2°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
40.9 in
+2.7 in in Richmond, VA

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)
17.6
13.7
+22% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.66
$24.13
+2% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Richmond, VA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / MO)
5.3%
4.225%
+1.1 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
4.70%
+1.0 pp in VA

Richmond vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Richmond than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Richmond versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Richmond or St. Louis?
Richmond is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).