Cost of living, St. Louis
95.1
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). St. Louis sits about 4.9% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −4.9%
- Metro
- St. Louis
- CBSA
- 41180
St. Louis all-items RPP is 95.1 (2024), about 4.9% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $85,590 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in St. Louis
| Component | St. Louis | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.1 | 100 |
| Goods | 100.0 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.0 | 100 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in St. Louis
| At US average | In St. Louis |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $57,060 |
| $90,000 | $85,590 |
| $150,000 | $142,650 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (95.1 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in St. Louis?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for St. Louis, MO-IL is 95.1, versus a US average of 100 (−4.9%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $85,590 in St. Louis for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 2,470 OEWS emp. $246,440
- Chief Executives , 1,120 OEWS emp. $202,840
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 6,160 OEWS emp. $167,130
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 1,280 OEWS emp. $162,660
- Financial Managers , 7,190 OEWS emp. $158,780
- Lawyers , 6,100 OEWS emp. $142,690
See methodology and disclaimer.