Cost of Living in St. Louis, MO-IL
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in St. Louis? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $7,241 per year — MO-IL levies no state income tax, so that figure covers federal tax only. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($1,218/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the St. Louis metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $48,143, or roughly $4,012 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The St. Louis metro has a cost of living index of 80.6 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). At 19% below the national average, St. Louis is a genuinely affordable metro where everyday expenses stretch further than in most cities.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in St. Louis represents approximately 21% of gross income. That falls comfortably below the 30% rent-burden guideline, a healthy position for building savings. MO-IL's zero income tax helps offset the rent burden compared to otherwise similar cities that also levy state income tax.
Annual Breakdown
Cost of Living Index
Living in St. Louis, MO-IL is roughly 19% less expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
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Affordability Score
K-12 Schools
See Details →Colleges & Universities
See Details →| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Institute | 83 | $0 | 96.0% |
| Washington University in St Louis | 16,500 | $61,750 | 94.0% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-St Charles | 117 | $0 | 83.0% |
| Evolve Beauty Academy | 21 | $0 | 81.0% |
| Saint Louis University | 17,202 | $52,260 | 80.0% |
| Stevens-The Institute of Business & Arts | 95 | $12,968 | 80.0% |
| Principia College | 338 | $32,250 | 76.0% |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | 631 | $31,320 | 75.0% |
| St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton | 430 | $0 | 74.0% |
| Grabber School of Hair Design | 244 | $0 | 74.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis | 209 | $0 | 74.0% |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | 9,883 | $24,766 | 72.0% |
| Career Center of Southern Illinois | 48 | $0 | 68.0% |
| Midwest Institute | 151 | $0 | 65.0% |
| American Trade School | 140 | $0 | 64.0% |
| St Louis College of Health Careers-St Louis | 108 | $0 | 64.0% |
| Webster University | 7,606 | $30,530 | 61.0% |
| McKendree University | 2,075 | $32,660 | 60.0% |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | 14,800 | $14,400 | 57.0% |
| Fontbonne University | 874 | $28,276 | 57.0% |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 12,045 | $8,846 | 55.0% |
| Urshan College | 514 | $7,656 | 55.0% |
| Blackburn College | 389 | $26,758 | 52.0% |
| Ranken Technical College | 1,696 | $16,200 | 51.0% |
| Greenville University | 1,053 | $29,998 | 51.0% |
| Lindenwood University | 7,288 | $19,900 | 50.0% |
| CALC Institute of Technology | 63 | $0 | 50.0% |
| Kaskaskia College | 3,447 | $7,050 | 49.0% |
| Missouri Baptist University | 5,641 | $31,530 | 48.0% |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | 4,196 | $9,000 | 48.0% |
| Creative Touch Cosmetology School | 21 | $0 | 45.0% |
| Four Rivers Career Center | 24 | $18,000 | 40.0% |
| East Central College | 2,638 | $4,176 | 38.0% |
| Southwestern Illinois College | 7,955 | $6,120 | 37.0% |
| Chamberlain University-Missouri | 328 | $18,900 | 33.0% |
| Jefferson College | 3,769 | $5,400 | 32.0% |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 1,098 | $5,808 | 27.0% |
| St Charles Community College | 5,902 | $5,010 | 23.0% |
| Saint Louis Community College | 14,627 | $4,440 | 18.0% |
| Applied Technology Services | 152 | $0 | 9.0% |
| Logan University | 1,582 | $9,000 | — |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | 607 | $0 | — |
| Concordia Seminary | 600 | $0 | — |
| Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing | 499 | $23,670 | — |
| Healing Arts Center | 121 | $0 | — |
| Urshan Graduate School of Theology | 120 | $0 | — |
| Ponce Health Sciences University-St Louis | 119 | $0 | — |
| Eden Theological Seminary | 85 | $0 | — |
| Aquinas Institute of Theology | 83 | $0 | — |
| Kenrick Glennon Seminary | 75 | $0 | — |
| Aesthetics Institute | 16 | $0 | — |
| St. Louis Med Tech | 9 | $10,900 | — |