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St. Louis, MO-IL

Cost of living in Saint Louis, Missouri

St. Louis County, MO

Part of the St. Louis Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,135/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 996,618 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $984 31%
Federal tax $617 20%
Healthcare $480 15%
Transport $320 10%
Groceries $313 10%
Energy $194 6%
State tax $177 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Saint 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 Saint Louis

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$81,340
per year
Individual earnings
$47,763
per year
Per capita
$51,085
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Saint Louis

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$260,700
Annual property tax
$3,193

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Saint 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 Saint Louis

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.8%

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 Saint 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 Saint Louis

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.3 min
Drive alone
73.7%
Public transit
1.4%
Work from home
16.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Saint Louis

What it costs to live in Saint Louis each month.

Single person
$3,135
per month
  • Rent $984
  • Energy $194
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $313
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $617
  • State tax $177
Couple
$4,623
per month
  • Rent $1,215
  • Energy $233
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $519
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,001
  • State tax $311
Family
$7,100
per month
  • Rent $1,570
  • Energy $291
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $787
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,001
  • State tax $311

Frequently asked questions about Saint Louis

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Saint Louis?

In Saint 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 Saint Louis?

In Saint Louis, Missouri, the average household income is $81,340 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $47,763 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Saint Louis?

The estimated cost of living in Saint Louis, Missouri is approximately $3,135 per month for a single person, $4,623 for a couple, $7,100 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Saint Louis?

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

Is Saint Louis an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Saint Louis, Missouri would need approximately $3,135 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $81,340 per year ($6,778 per month). Saint Louis is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Saint Louis?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Saint Louis, Missouri is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Saint Louis?

The average home value in Saint Louis, Missouri is $260,700, with average annual property taxes of $3,193, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Saint Louis compare to other areas?

You can compare Saint Louis, Missouri with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Saint 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 Saint 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