Cost of Living in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis is about 16% cheaper than the national average.
What Things Cost
Compared to the US average (100)
Census ACS 2024
Census ACS 2024
BEA RPP 2023
BEA RPP 2023
St. Louis at a Glance
On the median income of $53,374, state income tax is roughly $2,562/year.
Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.
St. Louis offers some of the most affordable housing of any metro with a major-league cultural scene. The median home price of about $175,000 in the city proper buys into neighborhoods with genuine architectural beauty, walking distance to Forest Park (larger than Central Park), and access to institutions like Washington University, the St. Louis Art Museum (free), and the Missouri Botanical Garden. The city-county split (St. Louis is an independent city, separate from St. Louis County) creates unusual dynamics that affect taxes, schools, and services.
How People Get Around
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Who Lives Here
Source: Census ACS 2024.
Why People Move to St. Louis
The cultural institutions are extraordinary for a city this affordable. The St. Louis Art Museum, Zoo, Science Center, and History Museum are all in Forest Park and all free. Washington University is a world-class research institution. The food scene includes deep Italian traditions on The Hill, a growing craft scene in the Grove, and Ted Drewes frozen custard. The Arch is iconic. The Cardinals create a baseball culture that is unmatched in intensity.
Neighborhoods
The Central West End is walkable, diverse, and adjacent to Forest Park. The Hill is the Italian-American neighborhood with restaurants and bakeries. Soulard is the oldest neighborhood with a famous farmer's market and Mardi Gras celebration. Tower Grove South has been revitalized with restaurants and young families. In the county, Clayton is the affluent government center, Kirkwood and Webster Groves offer excellent schools, and Maplewood has become a walkable dining destination.
Things to Consider
The city-county split means the city of St. Louis is an independent entity with its own tax structure. The 1% city earnings tax applies to workers in the city. Crime statistics for the city proper are inflated by this small geographic boundary (330,000 people within city limits versus 2.8 million in the metro). Neighborhood selection is critical. The region has struggled with racial segregation and economic inequality. Some neighborhoods have significant blight alongside others with stunning Victorian architecture.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St. Louis
Within the city limits, yes. Median home prices around $214,500 buy architecturally significant homes in neighborhoods like Tower Grove, Shaw, and the Hill. The metro suburbs (Clayton, Kirkwood) cost more but are still well below national averages for suburban quality. The county is generally more expensive than the city but offers different school systems and services.
The crime statistics for the city of St. Louis are among the highest nationally, but context matters: the city is only 330,000 people within narrow boundaries, while the metro is 2.8 million. This makes per-capita rates look worse than the metro experience. Neighborhoods like the Central West End, Soulard, and Tower Grove are safe by normal urban standards. Some other neighborhoods have serious crime challenges. Researching specific areas is essential.
St. Louis is an independent city, separate from St. Louis County since 1876. This means different governments, tax structures, school districts, and police departments. City residents pay a 1% earnings tax that county residents do not (unless they work in the city). The county generally has better-rated schools and lower crime, while the city has lower housing costs and more urban character. Reunification has been debated for decades.