CostIndexUSA

San Jose, CA vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Jose
110.4
overall index
$3,400/mo rent
More AffordableMO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

St. Louis is moderately cheaper than San Jose — 13.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Jose, you would need $68,900 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing62.7%
San Jose
211.9
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries4.9%
San Jose
105.2
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation1.6%
San Jose
105.3
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
San Jose
95.3
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities55.4%
San Jose
156.7
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$68,900
$11,100 less needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 110.4) = salary × 0.8614. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Jose, CA

Median Home Price
$1,569,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,400
Housing Index
211.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
38.5×

St. Louis, MO

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

San Jose has 62.7% lower housing costs compared to St. Louis.

Income & Job Market

San Jose, CA

Median Household Income
$153,200
Per Capita Income
$87,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
1,013,240
Top Industries
TechnologySemiconductorsSoftwareHealthcareFinance

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).

San Jose, CA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.