Pittsburgh vs St. Louis Cost of Living
St. Louis is approximately 4.2% cheaper than Pittsburgh. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Pittsburgh, PA
St. Louis, MO
| Salary in Pittsburgh | Equivalent in St. Louis | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $47,900 | -$2,100 (-4.2%) |
| $75,000 | $71,800 | -$3,200 (-4.3%) |
| $100,000 | $95,800 | -$4,200 (-4.2%) |
| $150,000 | $143,700 | -$6,300 (-4.2%) |
| $200,000 | $191,600 | -$8,400 (-4.2%) |
Pittsburgh vs St. Louis: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, St. Louis is 4.2% cheaper than Pittsburgh. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in Pittsburgh, you'd spend approximately $4,789 for the same lifestyle in St. Louis. Or: $100,000 in Pittsburgh ≈ $95,789 in St. Louis for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
Both Pennsylvania and Missouri levy state income taxes (typical effective rate ~5% at middle incomes). Tax burden is roughly comparable.
City local taxes: Pittsburgh 3.00% vs St. Louis 1.00%. On $100K, the difference is roughly $2000/year.
What costs more (and less) in St. Louis
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. St. Louis's housing index (0.54×) compared to Pittsburgh's (0.61×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: -12% lower
- Groceries: -2% lower
- Transportation: -2% lower
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
Pittsburgh Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Pittsburgh. St. Louis Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in St. Louis. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.