Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in St. Louis, you'd need:

$43,731

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
St. Louis 80.6
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
St. Louis $59,741

St. Louis

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$14,616
Net Income $48,143

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$114,813

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $7,608 more per year in St. Louis compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in St. Louis, while housing costs 34% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while St. Louis is 19% below avg, making St. Louis the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $43,731 in St. Louis once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, St. Louis has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in St. Louis ($22,621 vs $19,651 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
St. Louis
Schools
541
840
Enrollment
345,378
404,672
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
3.9%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
St. Louis
Institutions
31
53
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$19,651
Out-of-State
$28,276
$21,015
Grad Rate
58.5%
56.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or St. Louis more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 80.6 (national average = 100).

What salary in St. Louis equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $43,731 in St. Louis to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs St. Louis?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $14,616 in St. Louis—housing is 34% less in St. Louis.