What is the cost of living in St. Louis, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Louis has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, St. Louis has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in St. Louis ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies St. Louis ranks as the #99 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in St. Louis, check out:
St. Louis Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
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 98.
The Groceries index in St. Louis is 96.
The Health index in St. Louis is 82.
The Housing index in St. Louis is 97.
The Transportation index in St. Louis is 96.
The Utilities index in St. Louis is 95.
| Living Expense | St. Louis | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
St. Louis Cost Of Living Compared To Missouri Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, 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, MO Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Missouri, 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 $181,927.
The Median Rent in St. Louis is $997.
The Median Income in St. Louis is $56,160.
The Home Value To Income in St. Louis is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Louis is 0.21x.
St. Louis, MO Costs By Category
Detailed St. Louis Services costs vs. Missouri
Detailed St. Louis Groceries costs vs. Missouri
Detailed St. Louis Health costs vs. Missouri
Detailed St. Louis Transportation costs vs. Missouri
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:
O'Fallon, IL has a cost of living index of 107, 1.2x St. Louis.
Edwardsville, IL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x St. Louis.
Collinsville, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x St. Louis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Louis |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon, IL | 32,262 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Edwardsville, IL | 26,474 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Clayton, MO | 17,380 | 151 | 1.7x |
| Fairview Heights, IL | 16,745 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Swansea, IL | 14,710 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Shiloh, IL | 14,572 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Glen Carbon, IL | 13,977 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Columbia, IL | 11,127 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Maryville, IL | 8,316 | 102 | 1.1x |
