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

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Wichita.

Which has lower taxes, St. Louis or Wichita?

St. Louis is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

St. Louis vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in St. Louis, MO versus $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 9% 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 $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 12% higher in Wichita, 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

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$864

$726

+16% in St. Louis, MO

1 Bedroom

$866

$761

+12% in St. Louis, MO

2 Bedroom

$1,109

$976

+12% in St. Louis, MO

3 Bedroom

$1,135

$1,199

+6% in Wichita, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$185,100

$179,500

+3% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$55,279

$63,072

+14% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,990

$47,630

+5% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.6 yr

35.7 yr

+0.9 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

45.4%

58.4%

+13.0 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.2%

30.9%

+9.3 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

22.2 min

18.9 min

+3.3 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,372.9

1,238.7

+10% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

5,794.9

5,284.9

+9% 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

57.0°F

+1.3°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

40.9 in

32.6 in

+8.3 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.7

15.1

+11% in Wichita, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.13

$25.12

+4% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$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 Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in St. Louis or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in St. Louis than in Wichita?: 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 Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, St. Louis or Wichita?: St. Louis is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Wichita 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).