Route comparison
Kansas City, MO vs St. Louis, MO: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Kansas City, MO and St. Louis, MO. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Kansas City, MO
MO
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 92.1
- Housing RPP
- 85.6
- Goods RPP
- 93.7
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,258/mo
Missouri income tax up to 4.95%. Kansas City earnings tax 1%.
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 Kansas City, MO by about 5.0% (RPP 92.1 to 96.7).
$60,000 in Kansas City, MO
-> $62,997
in St. Louis, MO
$100,000 in Kansas City, MO
-> $104,995
in St. Louis, MO
$150,000 in Kansas City, MO
-> $157,492
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: Kansas City, MO vs St. Louis, MO
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Kansas City, MO
- Net people
- +11
- Net rank
- #32 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 1%
Largest source: Douglas County, KS. Largest destination: Douglas County, KS.
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 $49/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Kansas City, MO. Housing RPP moves from 85.6 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 Kansas City, MO?
- St. Louis, MO (RPP 96.7) is more expensive than Kansas City, MO (RPP 92.1) by about 5.0%.
- What salary do I need in St. Louis, MO if I earn $100,000 in Kansas City, MO?
- You would need approximately $104,995 in St. Louis, MO to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Kansas City, MO. Formula: $100,000 x (96.7 / 92.1).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Kansas City, MO or St. Louis, MO?
- For 2021-2022, Kansas City, MO had a net gain of 11 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.