Is St. Louis, MO cheaper or more expensive than Nashville, TN?

St. Louis, MO (RPP 96.7) is more expensive than Nashville, TN (RPP 96.6) by about 0.1%.

What salary do I need in St. Louis, MO if I earn $100,000 in Nashville, TN?

You would need approximately $100,104 in St. Louis, MO to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Nashville, TN. Formula: $100,000 x (96.7 / 96.6).

Which metro had stronger net migration, Nashville, TN or St. Louis, MO?

For 2021-2022, Nashville, TN had a net gain of 15,937 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.

Route comparison

Nashville, TN vs St. Louis, MO: Cost of Living

Compare the cost of living between Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MO. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.

Source-verified · June 2026BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR) Official source ↗

Nashville, TN

Overall RPP (US=100): 96.6
Housing RPP: 105.8
Goods RPP: 94.4
2-BR median rent: $1,619/mo

Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

St. Louis, 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 Nashville, TN by about 0.1% (RPP 96.6 to 96.7).

$60,000 in Nashville, TN

-> $60,062

in St. Louis, MO

$100,000 in Nashville, TN

-> $100,104

in St. Louis, MO

$150,000 in Nashville, TN

-> $150,155

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: Nashville, TN vs St. Louis, MO

IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022

Nashville, TN

Net people: +15,937
Net rank: #11 of 65
Top origin share: 2%
Top destination share: 4%

Largest source: Montgomery County, TN. Largest destination: Montgomery County, TN.

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 $410/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Nashville, TN. Housing RPP moves from 105.8 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 Nashville, TN?: St. Louis, MO (RPP 96.7) is more expensive than Nashville, TN (RPP 96.6) by about 0.1%.
What salary do I need in St. Louis, MO if I earn $100,000 in Nashville, TN?: You would need approximately $100,104 in St. Louis, MO to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Nashville, TN. Formula: $100,000 x (96.7 / 96.6).
Which metro had stronger net migration, Nashville, TN or St. Louis, MO?: For 2021-2022, Nashville, TN had a net gain of 15,937 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.

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