Kansas City vs St. Louis Cost of Living
St. Louis is approximately 1.1% cheaper than Kansas City. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Kansas City, MO
St. Louis, MO
| Salary in Kansas City | Equivalent in St. Louis | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $49,500 | -$500 (-1.0%) |
| $75,000 | $74,200 | -$800 (-1.1%) |
| $100,000 | $98,900 | -$1,100 (-1.1%) |
| $150,000 | $148,400 | -$1,600 (-1.1%) |
| $200,000 | $197,800 | -$2,200 (-1.1%) |
Kansas City and St. Louis cost within 1% of each other overall, so the decision between them is not really a financial one — it comes down to housing type, taxes, and how you want to get around.
Housing does most of the damage
Strip out housing and most US metros cost about the same. Housing is where the difference lives. A one-bedroom runs about $1,050 a month in Kansas City and $950 in St. Louis — $100 a month apart, or $1,200 a year.
Ownership widens the gap. $285,000 buys the median home in Kansas City; $240,000 does in St. Louis. The down payment alone differs by roughly $9,000, and that is before Missouri and Missouri property tax rates diverge.
Taxes the index leaves out
There is a city-level tax to account for as well: St. Louis charges about 1.00% local income tax, against 1.00% in Kansas City. On $100,000 that is roughly $1,000 a year, deducted before you ever see it and easy to miss when comparing two offers.
Work, weather, and what else is different
Kansas City is a large metro of about 2.2M and growing steadily; St. Louis is a large metro of about 2.8M and roughly flat.
Different economies entirely: logistics/rail freight, finance/insurance, agribusiness drive Kansas City, with Cerner/Oracle Health and H&R Block among the anchors, against healthcare, financial services, biotech in St. Louis where BJC HealthCare and Boeing dominate. Treat this as a career move as much as a relocation.
Weather is not a rounding error when you actually live somewhere. Kansas City: January highs near 38°F/lows near 21°F; July highs near 90°F/lows near 70°F, humid with severe thunderstorm/tornado risk in spring. St. Louis: Continental climate with cold winters near 22°F lows and hot humid summers with July highs near 90°F.
Kansas City, MO levies a 1% earnings tax on residents (and on nonresidents working in the city), on top of Missouri's state income tax. City of St. Louis levies a 1% earnings tax on residents and on nonresidents who work in the city, on top of Missouri state income tax.
Overall cost ratios come from BEA Regional Price Parities. Housing figures track published market data and local tax rates come from the municipalities themselves. How these are compiled and updated.
Related tools
Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — hourly and annual conversion. Mortgage calculator — what a home in either metro actually costs monthly. Guide: the true cost of relocating.