CostIndexUSA

Mount Vernon, WA vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Mount Vernon
102.4
overall index
$2,125/mo rent
More AffordableMO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

St. Louis is moderately cheaper than Mount Vernon — 7.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mount Vernon, you would need $74,300 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing27.0%
Mount Vernon
108.2
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries4.8%
Mount Vernon
105
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation0.8%
Mount Vernon
104.4
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare0.8%
Mount Vernon
94.5
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities27.2%
Mount Vernon
96
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Mount Vernon to see what you'd need to earn in St. Louis to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$74,300
$5,700 less needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 102.4) = salary × 0.9287. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,125
Housing Index
108.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.2×

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

Mount Vernon has 27.0% lower housing costs compared to St. Louis.

Income & Job Market

Mount Vernon, WA

Median Household Income
$91,200
Per Capita Income
$52,000
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
36,727
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailTourism

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Mount Vernon, WA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.