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 $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,433 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $3,689 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $4,945 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 99% 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 254%, Saint Louis, MO by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$18.03 $18.03

40.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$78.0 $78.0

82.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$11.97 $11.97

15.12%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$5.14 $5.14

20.43%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.46 $2.46

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.69 $1.69

75.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.85 $5.85

32.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.10 $7.10

42.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.28 $1.28

8.59%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.83 $3.83

19.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$5.70 $5.70

21.75%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.99 $3.99

45.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$13.36 $13.36

29.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$15.51 $15.51

-3.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$20.56 $20.56

-12.35%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$8.55 $8.55

-26.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.36 $2.36

-9.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$5.69 $5.69

1.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.29 $5.29

18.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.30 $4.30

-21.16%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.89 $4.89

-12.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.91 $2.91

-4.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.84 $2.84

-9.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$8.04 $8.04

132.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.82 $14.82

36.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.90 $2.90

8.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.34 $3.34

20.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.53 $2.53

17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$78.8 $78.8

75.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.40 $3.40

-9.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.59 $1.59

34.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$40.34 $40.34

3.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.93 $0.93

21.51%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$34.7K $34.7K

2.22%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.8K $24.8K

3.09%

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

$236 $236

$246 $246

-3.87%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$70.2 $70.2

4.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$74.9 $74.9

-3.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$32.06 $32.06

290.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

$19.91 $19.91

216.73%

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$14.14 $14.14

65.28%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$1,390 $1,390

141.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

155.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$58.0 $58.0

24.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$43.00 $43.00

21.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$88.4 $88.4

31.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$117 $117

5.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$1,532 $1,532

189.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$930 $930

227.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$2,052 $2,052

342.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$1,694 $1,694

218.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$1,368 $1,368

1274.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$1,813 $1,813

258.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$4,265 $4,265

23.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.09

6.57%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Saint Louis, MO: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $1,532 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 23% 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 $78.0 in Saint Louis, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $495 – 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 99% 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 $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $3,650 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 $3,353 per month in New York, NY and $1,390 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 4% 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 $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,433 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 $2,433 versus $4,841 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.