Moving from Chicago, IL-IN to St. Louis, MO-IL
About 5,186 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020), and 4,250 go the other way. Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in St. Louis, MO-IL.
Single, $70k: line by line
Single adult earning $70,000, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (1 bedroom). Taxes take 21.8% of income in Chicago, IL-IN and 21.3% in St. Louis, MO-IL.
Chicago, IL-IN St. Louis, MO-IL (monthly)
| Monthly | Chicago, IL-IN | St. Louis, MO-IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,270 | $1,244 | −$26 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $277 | $192 | −$84 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of St. Louis. | $0 | $58 | +$58 |
| Take-home pay | $4,563 | $4,589 | +$26 |
| Housing | $1,780 | $1,104 | −$676 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,780 | $1,104 | −$676 |
| Food | $472 | $441 | −$32 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 100.0 | $472 | $441 | −$32 |
| Transportation | $164 | $164 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 12,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.11/gal (Midwest (PADD)) | $164 | $164 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $34 | $27 | −$7 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 4.225% on other goods; 1.225% on groceries — local add-ons not modeled | $34 | $27 | −$7 |
| Other goods & services | $1,039 | $993 | −$46 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 100.0 | $536 | $500 | −$36 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 98.6 | $502 | $493 | −$9 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $1,074 | $1,860 | +$787 |
Family of four, $120k: line by line
Two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child, $120,000 combined, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms), center-based childcare in current dollars. Taxes take 16.8% of income in Chicago, IL-IN and 16.6% in St. Louis, MO-IL.
Chicago, IL-IN St. Louis, MO-IL (monthly)
| Monthly | Chicago, IL-IN | St. Louis, MO-IL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,682 | $1,663 | −$19 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law · after $4,400 Child Tax Credit | $470 | $470 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $765 | $765 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $447 | $328 | −$119 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of St. Louis. | $0 | $100 | +$100 |
| Take-home pay | $8,318 | $8,337 | +$19 |
| Housing | $2,011 | $1,349 | −$662 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $2,011 | $1,349 | −$662 |
| Childcare | $1,440 | $1,632 | +$193 |
| Childcare, center-basedDOL NDCP 2022 / DOL NDCP 2020 · preschool $173/wk, school-age $118/wk (2020 prices, St. Louis City, MO); × 1.2945 BLS CPI day care, 2020 to 2026-08; St. Louis City, MO has no 2022 NDCP price; the latest published year, 2020, is used | $1,440 | $1,632 | +$193 |
| Food | $1,376 | $1,283 | −$93 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 100.0 | $1,376 | $1,283 | −$93 |
| Transportation | $329 | $329 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 24,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.11/gal (Midwest (PADD)) | $329 | $329 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $34 | $37 | +$3 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 4.225% on other goods; 1.225% on groceries — local add-ons not modeled | $34 | $37 | +$3 |
| Other goods & services | $1,039 | $993 | −$46 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 100.0 | $536 | $500 | −$36 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 98.6 | $502 | $493 | −$9 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $2,091 | $2,715 | +$624 |
Chicago, IL-IN vs St. Louis, MO-IL at a glance
| Measure | Chicago, IL-IN | St. Louis, MO-IL |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 103.6 | 95.1 |
| Housing price level | 112.0 | 79.0 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,780 | $1,104 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,011 | $1,349 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,586 | $1,731 |
| Median home value | $323,000 | $244,800 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 1.98% | 1.20% |
| Median household income | $90,887 | $80,196 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $278 | $219 (2020 price) |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | None in our data | St. Louis |
| State sales tax | 6.25% | 4.225% |
| Regular gasoline | $4.11 | $4.11 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $127 | $138 |
Sources: BEA RPP 2024; HUD FMR FY2027; Census ACS 2020-2024; DOL NDCP 2022; 2026 tax law; state revenue departments; EIA (electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05).
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to make in St. Louis, MO-IL to keep my Chicago, IL-IN lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in Chicago, IL-IN, about $56,903 in St. Louis, MO-IL (−18.7%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $109,979. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs.
Is St. Louis, MO-IL cheaper than Chicago, IL-IN?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, St. Louis, MO-IL is at 95.1 and Chicago, IL-IN at 103.6 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have +$787 a month in St. Louis, MO-IL.
How many people move from Chicago, IL-IN to St. Louis, MO-IL?+
About 5,186 people a year (±797), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020); about 4,250 move the other way.
What isn’t included?+
Moving costs, health insurance, car payments and insurance, local sales tax add-ons and differences in wages between the two metros. Add known monthly costs in the calculator’s “Fixed costs / month” field.