CostIndexUSA

Scottsdale, AZ vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableMO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

St. Louis is moderately cheaper than Scottsdale — 7.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Scottsdale, you would need $73,600 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing34.8%
Scottsdale
121.2
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries+5.3%
Scottsdale
95
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation5.1%
Scottsdale
109.2
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare5.2%
Scottsdale
98.8
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities25.1%
Scottsdale
93.3
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$73,600
$6,400 less needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9206. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

St. Louis, MO

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

Scottsdale has 34.8% lower housing costs compared to St. Louis.

Income & Job Market

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

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).

Scottsdale, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.