Home › MO › St. Louis, MO Cost of living in St. Louis, MO Livability score 65 · cost-of-living index 95.0 (US = 100)
How St. Louis compares Where St. Louis falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 95 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 95 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $277k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $277k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $158 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $158 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.26% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.26% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 490 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 490 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.0 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.0 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22° Map of St. Louis Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 95.0 metro-area #93 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.7 metro-area #153 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.40 metro-area #91 of 200 Median household income $75,316 metro-area #79 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $44,494 metro-area #50 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.8 years metro-area #135 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 37.6% metro-area #60 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.0% metro-area #164 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 70.1% metro-area #45 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.35% metro-area #45 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +0.3% metro-area #165 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $276,878 metro-area #62 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.7× metro-area #29 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.9% metro-area #55 of 200 Price per square foot $158 metro-area #72 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,451 metro-area #66 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 7,679 Median days on market 6 metro-area #5 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.3% state #58 of 200 Combined sales tax 8.38% state #135 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.70% Capital gains tax 4.80% state #109 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.26% metro-area #131 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,755 metro-area #106 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 75.8 years metro-area #127 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 state #32 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.3% metro-area #79 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 76 metro-area #100 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $90 state #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.55% of value (~$714/yr) state #192 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 15 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #125 of 200 Commute by driving alone 75.7% metro-area #105 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 35.8% metro-area #139 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 14.0¢/kWh state #13 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $126 state #13 of 200 Gasoline $3.00/gal state #24 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $72 state #100 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $184 state #187 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $86 state #182 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 state #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,800 state #83 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 92.2 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #120 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 state #90 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $400 state #163 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 55 metro-area #175 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 metro-area #110 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,700 metro-area #116 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 35 metro-area #109 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200 Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200 Annual precipitation 41.7" metro-area #97 of 200 Annual snowfall 16.6" metro-area #118 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 57% metro-area #121 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 490 state #153 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,600 state #157 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 48 metro-area #111 of 200 Parks 45 Hiking areas 12 Golf courses 31 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 2
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in St. Louis Major public and private employers in the St. Louis, MO area.
Salaries by occupation in St. Louis Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Pharmacists $136,470 Financial Managers $135,850 Physician Assistants $130,730 Marketing Managers $127,840 Human Resources Managers $126,810 Lawyers $120,640 Software Developers $109,400 Construction Managers $104,740 Physical Therapists $97,200 Data Scientists $85,070 Civil Engineers $84,570 Mechanical Engineers $84,490 Web Developers $83,200 General & Operations Managers $83,160 Registered Nurses $80,760 Dental Hygienists $80,300 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $77,560 Electricians $76,950 Accountants & Auditors $76,280 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $66,650 Carpenters $63,360 Elementary School Teachers $60,160 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,370 Graphic Designers $50,970 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $48,870 Real Estate Sales Agents $39,520 Medical Assistants $39,160
Cities in the St. Louis area St. Louis (298,018) → O'Fallon (91,825) → St. Charles (70,687) → St. Peters (57,692) → Florissant (52,167) → Chesterfield (49,645) → Wentzville (44,584) → Belleville (42,155) → Oakville (35,412) → Wildwood (35,276) → University City (34,850) → O'Fallon (32,104) → Ballwin (30,948) → Kirkwood (29,309) → Mehlville (29,089) → Maryland Heights (28,099) → Granite City (27,026) → Edwardsville (26,622) → Alton (25,642) → Hazelwood (25,345) → Collinsville (24,294) → Webster Groves (23,838) → Arnold (20,840) → Old Jamestown (20,387) → Affton (19,922) → East St. Louis (18,796) → Creve Coeur (18,679) → Concord (18,606) → Ferguson (18,546) → Manchester (18,240) → Spanish Lake (18,051) → Godfrey (17,791) → Clayton (17,212) → Lake St. Louis (17,088) → Fairview Heights (16,360) → Lemay (16,211) → Overland (15,838) → Swansea (14,888) → Washington (14,769) → Shiloh (13,892) → Glen Carbon (13,654) → Jennings (12,996) → Troy (12,964) → St. Ann (12,917) → Dardenne Prairie (12,903) → Festus (12,772) → Union (12,341) → Crestwood (12,315) → Centralia (12,096) → Eureka (12,008) → Town and Country (11,575) → Bridgeton (11,422) → Columbia (11,036) → Waterloo (11,012) → Troy (10,920) → Bellefontaine Neighbors (10,637) → Wood River (10,313) → Highland (10,215) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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