Median rent is 53% lower in St. Louis ($997/mo vs $2,110/mo). Buying is cheaper in St. Louis, where the median home runs $197,500 versus $575,100. Households earn more in Gilbert ($122,551 vs $56,160 a year).
City A
Gilbert, AZ
City B
St. Louis, MO
How much would you need to earn in St. Louis, MO to maintain your standard of living from Gilbert, AZ?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Gilbert
Arizona
St. Louis
Missouri
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in St. Louis — median rent of $997/mo versus $2,110/mo in Gilbert, a 53% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Gilbert: the median home is $575,100 versus $197,500 in St. Louis — 66% more expensive.
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Gilbert
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
St. Louis
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Gilbert averages 32.0 AQI (Good) and St. Louis averages 33.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Gilbert if you prioritize higher median household income ($122,551/yr).
Pick St. Louis if you prioritize cheaper rent ($997/mo median).
Is Gilbert cheaper than St. Louis?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Gilbert vs St. Louis?
Median rent is $2,110/mo in Gilbert, AZ and $997/mo in St. Louis, MO. St. Louis, MO has the lower rent by about 53%.
Which has higher salaries — Gilbert or St. Louis?
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert, AZ and $56,160 in St. Louis, MO. Gilbert, AZ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Gilbert, AZ has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 33.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Gilbert or St. Louis?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in St. Louis to match my Gilbert income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
