Is Cincinnati cheaper than St Louis?

No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,353 in Cincinnati — 10% lower. Median household income is $49,191 in Cincinnati compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so St Louis has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Cincinnati or St Louis?

Cincinnati 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, Cincinnati or St Louis?

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

New search

City comparison

Cincinnati, OH vs St Louis, MO

Cincinnati, OH 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 $1,353 a month in Cincinnati and $1,218 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $49,191 versus $52,941. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Cincinnati takes safety and weather, while St Louis takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Cincinnati leads by 26% — 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 Cincinnati can feel further apart than Cincinnati and St Louis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Cincinnati and St Louis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Cincinnati report Full St Louis report

Cincinnati, OH

Rent: $1,353/mo
Median income: $49,191
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 71°F

St Louis, MO

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

Rent

10% cheaper

St Louis rent is 10% cheaper than Cincinnati

Cincinnati

$1,353/mo

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $1,353 in Cincinnati, so St Louis is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,620 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Cincinnati.

Median income

8% higher

St Louis's median income is 8% higher than Cincinnati

Cincinnati

$49,191

St Louis

Winner

$52,941

What this means for your life

Median household income is $52,941 in St Louis versus $49,191 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 8% higher in St Louis — about $3,750 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

26% lower crime

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

Cincinnati

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

St Louis

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Cincinnati's crime index is 86 versus 116 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Cincinnati. 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, Cincinnati 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

Cincinnati and St Louis are about even on school scores.

Cincinnati

A- · 84/100

St Louis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Cincinnati, 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

23% more comfortable

Cincinnati weather is 23% more comfortable than St Louis

Cincinnati

Winner

71°F typical

St Louis

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Cincinnati scores 23% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 71°F in Cincinnati and 78°F in St Louis. Cincinnati reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Cincinnati if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat St Louis on this page's weather index by 23%. St Louis may pay more or cost less, but Cincinnati is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati report →

Fit check

Who should choose St Louis

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.

St Louis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($52,941). Start with St Louis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the St Louis report →

Bottom line

Cincinnati vs St Louis, called

If safety is your priority, Cincinnati is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

Cincinnati vs St Louis FAQ

Is Cincinnati cheaper than St Louis?: No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,353 in Cincinnati — 10% lower. Median household income is $49,191 in Cincinnati compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so St Louis has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Cincinnati or St Louis?: Cincinnati 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, Cincinnati or St Louis?: School composites are close: A- in Cincinnati and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to St Louis?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps