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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
St Louis rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked St Louis has increased from $1,282 to $1,326/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's not nothing.
#1 Ranked: St Louis — cost index 77, rent $1,326/mo, income $55,279
St Louis rent up 3% over the past year
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
St Louis rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked St Louis has increased from $1,282 to $1,326/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. That's not nothing.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Missouri's value. 4 out of 4 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: St Louis at index 77, where median rent of $1,326/month saves renters $6,828/year versus the national median.
St Louis comes in at #1. Rent is $1,326 — we had to double-check this one — a month. Household income is $55,279. The cost of living index is 77. That's more or less in line with the region.
It's worth mentioning — though it's outside our data model — that cities with these economics tend to attract remote workers, which can push prices up over time.
One more layer before the full breakdown: Missouri — two major metros with small-city price tags. The 4 cities we track here average a cost index of 77 and median income of $57,048. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,317/month, which is $578 less than the national median.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers. Worth a deeper look.
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Louis | 281,754 | 77 | $1,326 | Details |
| 2 | Kansas | 152,933 | 83 | $1,418 | Details |
| 3 | Independence | 120,922 | 77 | $1,313 | Details |
| 4 | Springfield | 112,544 | 71 | $1,209 | Details |
281,754 residents · Missouri
A closer look at St Louis: the cost index of 77 — make of that what you will — breaks down to a Housing index of 77 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 95 (weakest). And roughly speaking, median rent is $1,326/month — 30% below the national median — while household income sits at $55,279, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
152,933 residents · Missouri
Why Kansas ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 83 on the cost index, residents save roughly 28% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,418/month while the median household pulls in $67,449/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 83, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $245,199 — $222,171 below the national median.
120,922 residents · Missouri
Look, Why Independence ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 77 on the cost index, residents save roughly 34% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,313/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $59,480/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 77, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $203,383 — $263,987 below the national median.
112,544 residents · Missouri
In plain English: Here's Springfield by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And for many people, cost index: 71. Rent: $1,209/month. Income: $45,984/year. Home price: $238,992. Population: 112,544. The strongest category is Housing at 71; the most expensive is Healthcare at 94. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $8,232 per year vs. the national median. For freelancers and gig workers with variable income, this cushion is everything.
St Louis ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 77 and median income of $55,279.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
St Louis (ranked #1) has a cost index of 77 and rent of $1,326/mo, while Springfield (ranked #4) has a cost index of 71 and rent of $1,209/mo — a 6-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in St Louis is $1,326/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $569 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in St Louis is $179,917, which is 3.3× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Missouri has a 4.8% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.335%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.88%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.