The short answer for 2026, based on Missouri's cost of living adjusted for St. Louis housing, plus what people actually earn.
The typical St. Louis household earns about $48,800, which is 2% below the $50,000 a comfortable lifestyle costs here. A median local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
| Lifestyle | Salary needed |
|---|---|
| Modest (single, essentials covered) | $33,500 |
| Comfortable (average-state lifestyle) | $50,000 |
| Very comfortable (room to save) | $67,000 |
| Median rent in St. Louis | $873/mo |
Figures scale each benchmark by an estimated St. Louis cost index: Missouri's BLISS score (0.78) adjusted for St. Louis's median home price ($153,200) versus the statewide median ($258,000). Housing drives most city-to-city differences; other spending uses the state average. Estimates, not advice. Actual needs vary by neighborhood and household size.
A salary is not what you keep. See your actual paycheck after Missouri and federal taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›About $50,000 a year. That matches the lifestyle $75,000 buys in an average U.S. state, using Missouri's BLISS cost score adjusted for St. Louis housing prices. A modest single-person budget is closer to $33,500, and $67,000 is very comfortable with room to save.
About $48,800 a year. That is 2% below the $50,000 a comfortable lifestyle costs here, so a typical local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
St. Louis's estimated cost of living is 33% below the U.S. average. The typical St. Louis home runs $153,200, which is 41% below Missouri's statewide median, and Missouri overall ranks #1 of 50 for affordability (#1 = cheapest).