Living Cost Compare
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,060 in St. Louis, MO versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,279 in St. Louis, MO and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 1% higher in Topeka, KS. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

St. Louis, MO
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$864
$702
+19% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$866
$758
+12% in St. Louis, MO
2 Bedroom
$1,109
$977
+12% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,135
$1,177
+4% in Topeka, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$185,100
$130,600
+29% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$55,279
$55,902
+1% in Topeka, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$49,540
+1% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
38.2 yr
+1.6 yr in Topeka, KS
Homeownership
45.4%
59.2%
+13.8 pp in Topeka, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.2%
29.1%
+11.1 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
22.2 min
16.7 min
+5.5 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,372.9
856.5
+38% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
5,794.9
3,660.2
+37% 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
55.7°F
55.1°F
+0.6°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
40.9 in
36.5 in
+4.5 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.85/gal
about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
15.7
+3% in St. Louis, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$28.78
$25.12
+13% 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)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / KS)
4.225%
6.5%
+2.3 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.70%
5.58%
+0.9 pp in KS

St. Louis vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Louis or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below St. Louis, MO's $1,060, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Louis than in Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in St. Louis versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, St. Louis or Topeka?
St. Louis is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).