Route comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs St. Louis, MO: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Indianapolis, IN and St. Louis, MO. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Indianapolis, IN
IN
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.7
- Housing RPP
- 84.6
- Goods RPP
- 93
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,349/mo
Indiana flat income tax 3.15% + county tax.
St. Louis, MO
MO
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 96.7
- Housing RPP
- 80
- Goods RPP
- 101.8
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,209/mo
Missouri income tax up to 4.95%. St. Louis earnings tax 1%.
Equivalent salary
St. Louis, MO is more expensive than Indianapolis, IN by about 3.2% (RPP 93.7 to 96.7).
$60,000 in Indianapolis, IN
-> $61,921
in St. Louis, MO
$100,000 in Indianapolis, IN
-> $103,202
in St. Louis, MO
$150,000 in Indianapolis, IN
-> $154,803
in St. Louis, MO
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.
Migration signal: Indianapolis, IN vs St. Louis, MO
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Indianapolis, IN
- Net people
- +2,065
- Net rank
- #25 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 1%
Largest source: Cook County, IL. Largest destination: Delaware County, IN.
St. Louis, MO
- Net people
- −5,249
- Net rank
- #43 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 1%
Largest source: Cook County, IL. Largest destination: Cook County, IL.
Rent delta: St. Louis, MO is $140/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Indianapolis, IN. Housing RPP moves from 84.6 to 80.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is St. Louis, MO cheaper or more expensive than Indianapolis, IN?
- St. Louis, MO (RPP 96.7) is more expensive than Indianapolis, IN (RPP 93.7) by about 3.2%.
- What salary do I need in St. Louis, MO if I earn $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN?
- You would need approximately $103,202 in St. Louis, MO to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN. Formula: $100,000 x (96.7 / 93.7).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Indianapolis, IN or St. Louis, MO?
- For 2021-2022, Indianapolis, IN had a net gain of 2,065 people, while St. Louis, MO had a net loss of 5,249 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.