St. Louis Cost of Living in 2026
St. Louis is one of the cheapest big cities in the US — overall costs run about 11% below the national average, with a median home near $185,000 and median rent under $1,000. But the city and the county are separate jurisdictions with different taxes, and the neighbourhood you pick changes the price by hundreds a month. This guide covers rent, home prices, taxes and a monthly budget, plus what a week-long stay near Barnes-Jewish Hospital actually costs.
How much does it cost to live in St. Louis?
St. Louis has an overall cost-of-living index near 89 (US average = 100). Median gross rent is about $978–$997 a month and the median home value about $185,100 (US Census Bureau, ACS). A single renter should budget roughly $2,000–$2,800 a month all-in. A week-long vacation rental in the city averages about $1,730. Sources: Census ACS 2023 5-year; GetCostIdea, Oct 2026; Likibu.
Rent in St. Louis by neighbourhood
The Census Bureau puts St. Louis city median gross rent at $978–$997 a month, against a US median of $1,348 (ACS 2023 5-year). Listing sites run higher because they skew to newer stock: Zumper's October 2026 average is $1,295 a month overall — $1,025 for a 1-bedroom and $1,350 for a 2-bedroom — and RentCafe's average is $1,455. HUD fair-market rent puts a 2-bedroom at $1,218 a month. Neighbourhood matters most: the cheapest areas (Dutchtown South ~$995, Gravois Park ~$1,060) run about half the price of Midtown (~$1,666) and Lafayette Square (~$1,769) (Zumper; RentCafe, Oct 2026).
What a week near Barnes-Jewish costs
Barnes-Jewish sits in the Central West End / medical-campus area, one of the pricier rental pockets. A week-long vacation rental in St. Louis averages about $1,730 (Likibu) — roughly $247 a night — but a 1-bedroom near the hospital corridor typically lists higher than the city average, and weekly discounts are thinner than monthly ones. For a stay of a week, compare three numbers: the nightly Airbnb rate × 7, a month of rent ÷ 4 (about $325 a week at the $1,295 average), and an extended-stay hotel. If the stay stretches past two weeks, a month-to-month rental usually wins. WashU-area 2-bedroom listings run $2,395–$2,595 a month, which is a useful ceiling for what "near the hospitals" costs (WashU off-campus listings).
Buying a home: prices and the worked example
Monthly payment M = P × r(1+r)n / ((1+r)n − 1), where P is the loan, r the monthly rate, n the number of payments.
The city median home value is about $185,100 (Census ACS); St. Louis County is higher, near $276,800–$280,000. Worked example: a $185,000 home, 20% down ($37,000), loan $148,000, 30-year fixed at 6.875% (Nov 4, 2026): monthly rate 0.005729, 360 payments. Payment = $148,000 × 0.005729 × 7.819 / 6.819 ≈ $972 a month in principal and interest. Add property tax (~$185/mo at ~1.2%) and insurance for a true cost near $1,250 a month — still below the $1,350 average 2-bedroom rent. Try your own numbers in our mortgage calculator.
Taxes: city earnings tax and property tax
The city-county split is the trap for newcomers. St. Louis City charges a 1% earnings tax on people who live or work in the city; St. Louis County has none. Missouri property tax averages about 0.9–0.96% statewide, with St. Louis County near 1.2% (median about $3,335 a year). Living in the county and working in the city still triggers the earnings tax, so check both sides before choosing a side of the line.
A monthly budget
A single renter in St. Louis should plan on roughly $2,000–$2,800 a month before taxes and savings (GetCostIdea, Oct 2026): rent $900–$1,400, utilities ~$145, groceries ~$335 a person, transport and healthcare on top. A comfortable single-person budget runs $2,700–$3,200; couples sharing a 2-bedroom can get per-person costs to $1,600–$2,200 (GetTidyFlow, 2026). Against a city median household income near $55,279, rent alone is about 21% of income — one of the lowest burdens of any big US city.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in St. Louis?
About $1,295 a month on listing sites (Zumper, Oct 2026) — $1,025 for a 1-bedroom, $1,350 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent is lower, $978–$997, because it covers all rentals including older stock.
How much does a week-long Airbnb in St. Louis cost?
About $1,730 on average for a week-long vacation rental (Likibu). Near Barnes-Jewish Hospital in the Central West End, expect above-average nightly rates.
Is St. Louis cheap to live in?
Yes — overall costs run about 11% below the US average (index ~89), with housing the biggest saving. Median rent is roughly 27% below the US median.
Does St. Louis have a city income tax?
St. Louis City charges a 1% earnings tax on residents and people who work in the city. St. Louis County has no earnings tax.
Sources
- US Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2023 5-year (median home $185,100; median rent $978; median income $55,279)
- Zumper — Average Rent in St. Louis, Oct 2026 ($1,295 average; neighbourhood rents)
- RentCafe — Saint Louis Rental Market Trends, Oct 30, 2026 (average $1,455; Midtown $1,666)
- GetCostIdea — Cost of Living in St. Louis 2026 (single-renter budget $2,000–$2,800)
- CoziRoof — Cost of Living in St. Louis, Nov 5, 2026 (1BR $1,100; median home $215K)
- USRentPrices / HUD Fair Market Rent — 2-bedroom $1,218/mo, Nov 2026
- Lower.com — Missouri 30-year mortgage ~6.875%, Nov 4, 2026