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St. Louis, MO-IL

Cost of living in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis city, MO

Part of the St. Louis Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,962/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 293,109 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $984 33%
Federal tax $534 18%
Healthcare $480 16%
Groceries $313 11%
Transport $250 8%
Energy $194 7%
State tax $157 5%
Water $50 2%

Rent in St. Louis

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$951
per month
1 bedroom
$984
per month
2 bedroom
$1,215
per month
3 bedroom
$1,570
per month
4 bedroom
$1,806
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in St. Louis

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$55,279
per year
Individual earnings
$42,718
per year
Per capita
$38,947
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in St. Louis

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$185,100
Annual property tax
$1,935

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in St. Louis

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$142
per month · 14.2¢/kWh
Natural gas
$52
per month
Annual total
$2,328
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in St. Louis

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
9.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in St. Louis

State and local tax rates for Missouri.

State income tax
4.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.2%
Combined sales tax
8.3%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in St. Louis

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
22.2 min
Drive alone
66.6%
Public transit
5.2%
Work from home
15.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for St. Louis

What it costs to live in St. Louis each month.

Single person
$2,962
per month
  • Rent $984
  • Energy $194
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $313
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $534
  • State tax $157
Couple
$4,023
per month
  • Rent $1,215
  • Energy $233
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $519
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $575
  • State tax $207
Family
$6,500
per month
  • Rent $1,570
  • Energy $291
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $787
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $575
  • State tax $207

Frequently asked questions about St. Louis

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in St. Louis?

In St. Louis, Missouri, a one-bedroom apartment averages $984 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,215 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,570 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in St. Louis?

In St. Louis, Missouri, the average household income is $55,279 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $42,718 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in St. Louis?

The estimated cost of living in St. Louis, Missouri is approximately $2,962 per month for a single person, $4,023 for a couple, $6,500 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in St. Louis?

The combined sales tax rate in St. Louis, Missouri is 8.29%, which includes the Missouri state rate of 4.22% plus an average local rate of 4.06%.

Is St. Louis an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in St. Louis, Missouri would need approximately $2,962 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $55,279 per year ($4,607 per month). St. Louis has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in St. Louis?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in St. Louis, Missouri is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 9.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in St. Louis?

The average home value in St. Louis, Missouri is $185,100, with average annual property taxes of $1,935, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does St. Louis compare to other areas?

You can compare St. Louis, Missouri with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. St. Louis is in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area.

Other counties in Missouri

Browse the full list of counties in Missouri, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Missouri

Compare St. Louis with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources