Is Chicago cheaper than St Louis?

No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,781 in Chicago — 32% lower. Median household income is $71,673 in Chicago compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so Chicago has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Chicago or St Louis?

Chicago is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 116 in St Louis — 26% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Chicago or St Louis?

School composites are close: A- in Chicago and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Chicago, IL vs St Louis, MO

Chicago, IL versus St Louis, MO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,781 a month in Chicago and $1,218 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $71,673 versus $52,941. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Chicago takes job market, safety, and weather, while St Louis takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Chicago leads by 35% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Chicago can feel further apart than Chicago and St Louis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Chicago and St Louis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Chicago report Full St Louis report

Chicago, IL

Rent: $1,781/mo
Median income: $71,673
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 72°F

St Louis, MO

Rent: $1,218/mo
Median income: $52,941
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

32% cheaper

St Louis rent is 32% cheaper than Chicago

Chicago

$1,781/mo

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $1,781 in Chicago, so St Louis is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $563/month back in your pocket — $6,756/year. Over five years that's $33,780 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Chicago, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

35% higher

Chicago's median income is 35% higher than St Louis

Chicago

Winner

$71,673

St Louis

$52,941

What this means for your life

Median household income is $71,673 in Chicago versus $52,941 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Chicago — about $18,732 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chicago is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

26% lower crime

Chicago's crime index is 26% lower than St Louis

Chicago

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

St Louis

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Chicago's crime index is 86 versus 116 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Chicago. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Chicago is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Chicago and St Louis are about even on school scores.

Chicago

A- · 84/100

St Louis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Chicago, A- in St Louis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

19% more comfortable

Chicago weather is 19% more comfortable than St Louis

Chicago

Winner

72°F typical

St Louis

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Chicago scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 72°F in Chicago and 78°F in St Louis. Chicago reads as warm weather most of the year; St Louis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Chicago is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. St Louis can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Chicago

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 35% higher ($71,673), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 72°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than St Louis (86 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Chicago report →

Fit check

Who should choose St Louis

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis

St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,218 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the St Louis report →

Bottom line

Chicago vs St Louis, called

If the job market is your priority, Chicago is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, St Louis pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Chicago offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Chicago vs St Louis FAQ

Is Chicago cheaper than St Louis?: No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,781 in Chicago — 32% lower. Median household income is $71,673 in Chicago compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so Chicago has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Chicago or St Louis?: Chicago is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 116 in St Louis — 26% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Chicago or St Louis?: School composites are close: A- in Chicago and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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