St. Louis wins overall by ~10% (COL index)
Cost of living: St. Louis vs Madison (2026)
A $61,000 salary in St. Louis buys roughly what $68,011 does in Madison (COL-adjusted). Your real trade-offs are taxes, rent, and day-to-day prices — we break them down and personalize below.
Your move simulator
Tell us about your household — we calculate your real annual savings.
Estimated annual swing
+$6,904/yr
Favoring St. Louis for this income & household (illustrative).
With the extra $575/mo, you could pay down a $15,000 card balance in ~27 months and still keep ~$69/mo for dining out.
Studio rent/mo
1BR rent/mo
2BR rent/mo
Median home price
Groceries index (100 = US avg)
Budget meal (1 person)
Mid-range dinner (2)
Monthly transit pass/mo
Gas price/gal
Car insurance/mo
Monthly utilities bundle/mo
Internet/mo
Median household income/yr
State income tax%
Sales tax (combined)%
Movie ticket
Gym membership/mo
Beer at restaurant
Overall COL index (100 = US avg)
Walk score / 100
| Category | St. Louis Missouri | Madison Wisconsin | Who wins | Your impact at $61K · 1br · 1 car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | ||||
| Studio rent/mo | $1,050Wins | $1,300 | St. Louis wins +$250/mo | $3,000/yr saves in St. Louis |
| 1BR rent/mo | $1,300Wins | $1,650 | St. Louis wins +$350/mo | $4,200/yr saves in St. Louis |
| 2BR rent/mo | $1,700Wins | $2,200 | St. Louis wins +$500/mo | $6,000/yr saves in St. Louis |
| Median home price | $230KWins | $360K | St. Louis wins +$130K | — |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 97Better | 101 | St. Louis wins +4 | — |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $13Better | $14 | St. Louis wins +$1/mo | — |
| Mid-range dinner (2) | $52Better | $58 | St. Louis wins +$6/mo | — |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | ||||
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $75 | $62Wins | Madison wins −$13/mo | — |
| Gas price/gal | $3.00Better | $3.20 | St. Louis wins +$0.20 | — |
| Car insurance/mo | $160 | $145Better | Madison wins −$15/mo | — |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Monthly utilities bundle/mo | $162Better | $162 | — | — |
| Internet/mo | $60Better | $63 | St. Louis wins +$3/mo | — |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Median household income/yr | $54K | $68KWins | Madison wins +$14K more/yr | — |
| State income tax% | 4.7%Wins | 7.7% | St. Louis wins +3.0 pp | $1,830/yr saves in St. Louis |
| Sales tax (combined)% | 8.6% | 5.4%Wins | Madison wins -3.2 pp | — |
| 🎬 LeisureQ1 2026 | ||||
| Movie ticket | $14.00Better | $15.00 | St. Louis wins +$1.00 | — |
| Gym membership/mo | $35Wins | $42 | St. Louis wins +$7/mo | — |
| Beer at restaurant | $5.50Wins | $6.50 | St. Louis wins +$1.00 | — |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | ||||
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 87Better | 97 | St. Louis wins +10 | — |
| Walk score / 100 | 61Better | 55 | St. Louis wins -6 more/yr | — |
Complete the Picture
While you’re comparing — don’t leave money on the table.
Tax-smart rewards
Turn ~$1,836/yr tax difference into cash back
St. Louis fits your move math — cash-back cards stack on groceries, gas, and dining you're already doing.
Home + auto bundle
New state — new insurance rates
Bundling often saves hundreds/yr. Compare before you sign a lease in St. Louis.
High-yield savings
Park ~$4,200/yr rent savings at 4–5%+ APY
Don't let relocation cash sit at 0% — put it to work until closing day.
More ways to compare this move
Ready to move?
Open the full interactive tool to add up to 5 cities, drop in your salary, and see rent burden.
Open full interactive toolComplete the Picture
While you’re comparing — don’t leave money on the table.
If cash is tight
Knock down high-interest debt first
A move has upfront costs — a balance transfer or personal loan can lower APR while you settle in.
If you're saving big
Invest the surplus on autopilot
Brokerages and robo-advisors help you dollar-cost average into the market with your new slack.
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Louis cheaper than Madison?
Yes. St. Louis is 10% cheaper than Madison based on overall cost of living indices (87 vs 97, where 100 = US average).
What is the average rent in St. Louis vs Madison?
As of Q1 2026, the median 1-bedroom rent in St. Louis is $1,300/month and in Madison is $1,650/month. St. Louis is cheaper by 21%.
How much do I need to earn in Madison to match a $75,000 salary in St. Louis?
To maintain a similar lifestyle, you would need approximately $83,621/year in Madison to match a $75,000 salary in St. Louis. This estimate is based on overall cost of living indices and does not account for individual spending patterns.
Which city has lower taxes — St. Louis or Madison?
St. Louis has the lower state income tax rate at 4.7% vs 7.7%. The difference is 3.0 percentage points. Note that sales tax and local taxes also vary — see the full breakdown in the table above.
Is it worth moving from St. Louis to Madison?
It depends on your priorities. St. Louis offers lower overall costs, but both cities have different job markets, weather, and lifestyle trade-offs. Use the comparison table above to evaluate rent, groceries, transportation, and income potential side by side based on your specific budget.
Data sourced from Zillow, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, and US Census ACS · Updated Q1 2026 · For general guidance only
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Salary equivalent: St. Louis ↔ Madison
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