St. Louis vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Cost of Living Comparison
St. Louis
To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:
$114,511
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
To match your lifestyle in St. Louis, you'd need:
$43,309
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $9,108 more per year in St. Louis compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 62% more. The cost of living in St. Louis is 19% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making St. Louis the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in St. Louis feels like earning $114,511 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($19,651 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Louis or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 80.6 (national average = 100).
What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in St. Louis?
You would need to earn approximately $114,511 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in St. Louis, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in St. Louis vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $14,616 in St. Louis and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 62% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.