What is the cost of living in St. Louis, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Louis has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, St. Louis has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in St. Louis ranks as #41 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies St. Louis ranks as the #138 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in St. Louis, check out:
St. Louis Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Louis. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Louis is 100.
The Groceries index in St. Louis is 96.
The Health index in St. Louis is 56.
The Housing index in St. Louis is 94.
The Transportation index in St. Louis is 98.
The Utilities index in St. Louis is 93.
| Living Expense | St. Louis | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 56 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 98 | 100 |
St. Louis Cost Of Living Compared To Michigan Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in St. Louis Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Louis, MI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in St. Louis is $162,578.
The Median Rent in St. Louis is $794.
The Median Income in St. Louis is $51,167.
The Home Value To Income in St. Louis is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Louis is 0.19x.
St. Louis, MI Costs By Category
Detailed St. Louis Services costs vs. Michigan
Detailed St. Louis Groceries costs vs. Michigan
Detailed St. Louis Health costs vs. Michigan
Detailed St. Louis Transportation costs vs. Michigan
St. Louis SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Louis
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Louis. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
East Lansing, MI has a cost of living index of 102, 1.2x St. Louis.
Midland, MI has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x St. Louis.
Okemos, MI has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x St. Louis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Louis |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Lansing, MI | 45,758 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Midland, MI | 42,724 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Okemos, MI | 26,396 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Waverly, MI | 23,575 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 21,236 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Haslett, MI | 18,559 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Alma, MI | 9,396 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Flushing, MI | 8,284 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Grand Ledge, MI | 7,804 | 93 | 1.1x |
| St. Johns, MI | 7,715 | 93 | 1.1x |
