City profile
St. Louis, MO cost of living
MO · BLS RPP 96.7
Overall RPP
96.7
US = 100
Housing RPP
80
Housing component
Goods RPP
101.8
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,209/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where St. Louis, MO sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#37 of 67
-3.3 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-1.7
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#57 of 67
-397/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of St. Louis, MO
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the St. Louis, MO metro.
Moved in
125,616
people · 73,480 households
Moved out
130,865
people · 76,635 households
Net
−5,249
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#43 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-5,145
median -104 people
Largest flow share
1% in / 1% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Cook County, IL 1,310
- Boone County, MO 881
- St. Francois County, MO 814
- Maricopa County, AZ 695
- Sangamon County, IL 646
Where residents moved to
- Cook County, IL 1,372
- St. Francois County, MO 947
- Maricopa County, AZ 934
- Harris County, TX 861
- Dallas County, TX 794
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in St. Louis, MO?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in St. Louis, MO | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,350 | $50,000 x (96.7/100) |
| $75,000 | $72,525 | $75,000 x (96.7/100) |
| $100,000 | $96,700 | $100,000 x (96.7/100) |
| $125,000 | $120,875 | $125,000 x (96.7/100) |
| $150,000 | $145,050 | $150,000 x (96.7/100) |
| $200,000 | $193,400 | $200,000 x (96.7/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Missouri income tax up to 4.95%. St. Louis earnings tax 1%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in St. Louis, MO?
- St. Louis, MO has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 96.7 (US average = 100). It is 3.3% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in St. Louis, MO?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $96,700 in St. Louis, MO to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in St. Louis, MO?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is approximately $1,209 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from St. Louis, MO?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 125,616 people moved into the St. Louis, MO metro and 130,865 moved out — a net loss of roughly 5,249 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Cook County, IL.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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