Living Cost Compare
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,279 in St. Louis, MO and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 38% higher in West Valley City, UT. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

St. Louis, MO
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,085
+26% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$866
$1,191
+38% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,109
$1,333
+20% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,135
$1,723
+52% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$185,100
$377,300
+104% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$55,279
$88,604
+60% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$55,240
+11% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.6 yr
30.3 yr
+6.3 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
45.4%
71.1%
+25.7 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.2%
15.7%
+24.5 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
22.2 min
22.2 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,372.9
471.8
+66% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
5,794.9
1,855.5
+68% 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
52.8°F
+2.9°F in St. Louis, MO
Annual Precipitation
40.9 in
16.1 in
+24.8 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$4.27/gal
+11% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
13.4
+18% in St. Louis, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$28.78
$11.84
+59% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / UT)
4.225%
6.1%
+1.9 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.70%
4.50%
+0.2 pp in MO

St. Louis vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Louis or West Valley City?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Louis than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in St. Louis versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, St. Louis or West Valley City?
St. Louis is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).