Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Saint Louis, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Saint Louis, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,503 per month in New York, NY vs $2,435 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,077 per month in New York, NY vs $3,713 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,650 per month in New York, NY vs $4,990 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Saint Louis, MO, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both New York, NY and Saint Louis, MO sit above the global median – New York, NY by 236%, Saint Louis, MO by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$25.30 $25.30

19.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$68.8 $68.8

106.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$10.92 $10.92

15.84%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$4.87 $4.87

19.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.49 $2.49

30.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.90 $1.90

35.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.56 $5.56

47.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$5.93 $5.93

99.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.95 $0.95

61.05%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$2.90 $2.90

81.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$5.72 $5.72

45.80%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$2.95 $2.95

145.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$14.33 $14.33

20.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$11.80 $11.80

37.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$16.73 $16.73

18.47%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$7.33 $7.33

3.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.30 $2.30

5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.64 $5.64

3.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.13 $4.13

54.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.84 $3.84

0.78%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.87 $3.87

4.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.30 $2.30

35.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.38 $2.38

2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$7.52 $7.52

156.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$15.09 $15.09

32.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.08 $2.08

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.03 $4.03

-7.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.55 $2.55

11.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$77.2 $77.2

73.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.58 $3.58

42.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.50 $1.50

40.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$39.84 $39.84

6.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.83 $0.83

16.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$32.7K $32.7K

6.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

5.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 $181

$246 $246

-26.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$52.6 $52.6

14.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$69.7 $69.7

-10.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$27.10 $27.10

428.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$19.78 $19.78

229.93%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$12.93 $12.93

54.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,216 $3,216

$1,303 $1,303

146.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$24.0K $24.0K

138.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$50.5 $50.5

33.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$41.11 $41.11

15.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$92.2 $92.2

20.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$118 $118

42.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,424 $1,424

187.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,037 $1,037

159.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,372 $2,372

256.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$1,987 $1,987

158.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$1,451 $1,451

1153.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$1,880 $1,880

235.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$4,131 $4,131

34.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.49

-0.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Saint Louis, MO: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,424 in Saint Louis, MO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in New York, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in New York, NY versus $69.0 in Saint Louis, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $554 vs $425 – making Saint Louis, MO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Saint Louis, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 85% more than Saint Louis, MO, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,754 per month in New York, NY and $3,653 in Saint Louis, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Louis, MO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,216 per month in New York, NY and $1,303 in Saint Louis, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,503 in New York, NY and $2,435 in Saint Louis, MO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saint Louis, MO costs $2,435 versus $4,503 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Louis, MO. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.