Median rent is 19% lower in St. Louis ($997/mo vs $1,238/mo). Buying is cheaper in St. Louis, where the median home runs $197,500 versus $242,900. Households earn more in Kansas City ($69,166 vs $56,160 a year). Taken together, Kansas City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 93.2 against 95.0 — about 2% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Kansas City, MO.
Cost of living verdict
Kansas City is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 93.2 in Kansas City vs 95.0 in St. Louis (US national average = 100)
City A
Kansas City, MO
City B
St. Louis, MO
How much would you need to earn in St. Louis, MO to maintain your standard of living from Kansas City, MO?
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$76,424
You'd need $1,424 more (2% higher).
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
Kansas City
Missouri
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
Median rent is modestly lower in St. Louis at $997/mo compared to $1,238/mo in Kansas City (19% gap). Median home values are within 19% of each other: $242,900 in Kansas City and $197,500 in St. Louis.
Metric
Kansas City
St. Louis
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Kansas City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
St. Louis
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
St. Louis has cleaner air on average: 33.0 AQI (Good) compared to 57.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Kansas City if you prioritize higher median household income ($69,166/yr).
Pick St. Louis if you prioritize cheaper rent ($997/mo median).
Pick St. Louis if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 33.0).
Kansas City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 93.2 versus 95.0 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in Kansas City.
Median rent is $1,238/mo in Kansas City, MO and $997/mo in St. Louis, MO. St. Louis, MO has the lower rent by about 19%.
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City, MO and $56,160 in St. Louis, MO. Kansas City, MO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
St. Louis, MO has better air quality on average: 33.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Kansas City, MO is equivalent to roughly $101,899 in St. Louis, MO (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
