Cost of living in the St. Louis Metro Area
15 counties across MO and IL. Population: 2,809,414.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the St. Louis Metro Area
Average rent across the St. Louis metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the St. Louis Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 15 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the St. Louis Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the St. Louis Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 15 counties in the St. Louis Metro Area
The St. Louis metro area includes 15 counties across MO and IL. Sorted by population.
- Saint Louis MO$3,135/moPop996,618 Rent$984/mo Income$81,340/yrSaint Louis MO 996,618 $984/mo $81,340/yr $3,135/mo
- St. Charles County MO$3,269/moPop409,830 Rent$984/mo Income$102,912/yrSt. Charles County MO 409,830 $984/mo $102,912/yr $3,269/mo
- St. Louis MO$2,962/moPop293,109 Rent$984/mo Income$55,279/yrSt. Louis MO 293,109 $984/mo $55,279/yr $2,962/mo
- Madison County IL$3,126/moPop264,631 Rent$984/mo Income$74,800/yrMadison County IL 264,631 $984/mo $74,800/yr $3,126/mo
- Belleville IL$3,040/moPop254,777 Rent$984/mo Income$70,178/yrBelleville IL 254,777 $984/mo $70,178/yr $3,040/mo
- Jefferson County MO$3,079/moPop228,227 Rent$984/mo Income$80,522/yrJefferson County MO 228,227 $984/mo $80,522/yr $3,079/mo
- Franklin County MO$3,039/moPop105,316 Rent$984/mo Income$71,973/yrFranklin County MO 105,316 $984/mo $71,973/yr $3,039/mo
- Lincoln County MO$3,111/moPop61,636 Rent$984/mo Income$85,276/yrLincoln County MO 61,636 $984/mo $85,276/yr $3,111/mo
- Macoupin County IL$2,781/moPop44,566 Rent$701/mo Income$68,518/yrMacoupin County IL 44,566 $701/mo $68,518/yr $2,781/mo
- Clinton County IL$3,164/moPop36,899 Rent$984/mo Income$82,314/yrClinton County IL 36,899 $984/mo $82,314/yr $3,164/mo
- Warren County MO$2,994/moPop36,467 Rent$984/mo Income$77,989/yrWarren County MO 36,467 $984/mo $77,989/yr $2,994/mo
- Monroe County IL$3,350/moPop34,969 Rent$984/mo Income$101,635/yrMonroe County IL 34,969 $984/mo $101,635/yr $3,350/mo
- Jersey County IL$3,089/moPop21,336 Rent$984/mo Income$79,104/yrJersey County IL 21,336 $984/mo $79,104/yr $3,089/mo
- Bond County IL$2,665/moPop16,627 Rent$787/mo Income$61,603/yrBond County IL 16,627 $787/mo $61,603/yr $2,665/mo
- Calhoun County IL$2,937/moPop4,406 Rent$984/mo Income$92,095/yrCalhoun County IL 4,406 $984/mo $92,095/yr $2,937/mo
Compare counties in the St. Louis Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the St. Louis Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the St. Louis Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the St. Louis metro area is approximately $3,111 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 15 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the St. Louis Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the St. Louis metro area is $978 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the St. Louis Metro Area?
Bond County, IL is the most affordable county in the St. Louis metro area at approximately $2,665 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the St. Louis Metro Area?
Monroe County, IL is the most expensive county in the St. Louis metro area at approximately $3,350 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the St. Louis Metro Area?
The St. Louis metro area covers 15 counties across MO and IL. The five largest by population are Saint Louis, St. Charles County, St. Louis, Madison County, Belleville.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.