Is Philadelphia cheaper than St Louis?

No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 33% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so Philadelphia has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or St Louis?

Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 75 versus 116 in St Louis — 35% 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, Philadelphia or St Louis?

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

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs St Louis, MO

Philadelphia, PA 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 $1,810 a month in Philadelphia and $1,218 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $57,537 versus $52,941. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

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

Full Philadelphia report Full St Louis report

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,810/mo
Median income: $57,537
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 75°F

St Louis, MO

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

Rent

33% cheaper

St Louis rent is 33% cheaper than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$1,810/mo

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so St Louis is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $592/month back in your pocket — $7,104/year. Over five years that's $35,520 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 Philadelphia, 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

9% higher

Philadelphia's median income is 9% higher than St Louis

Philadelphia

Winner

$57,537

St Louis

$52,941

What this means for your life

Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia versus $52,941 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Philadelphia — about $4,596 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

35% lower crime

Philadelphia's crime index is 35% lower than St Louis

Philadelphia

Winner

75 (100 = avg)

St Louis

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia's crime index is 75 versus 116 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Philadelphia. 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, Philadelphia 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

Philadelphia and St Louis are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

St Louis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, 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

10% more comfortable

Philadelphia weather is 10% more comfortable than St Louis

Philadelphia

Winner

75°F typical

St Louis

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Philadelphia scores 10% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Philadelphia and 78°F in St Louis. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; St Louis reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want St Louis's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

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 9% higher ($57,537), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 75°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than St Louis (75 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 Philadelphia 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 33% 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

Philadelphia vs St Louis, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Philadelphia vs St Louis FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than St Louis?: No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 33% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so Philadelphia has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or St Louis?: Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 75 versus 116 in St Louis — 35% 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, Philadelphia or St Louis?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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