Moving from St. Louis, MO-IL to Columbia, MO
About 3,393 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020). Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in Columbia, MO.
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 21.3% of income in St. Louis, MO-IL and 20.3% in Columbia, MO.
St. Louis, MO-IL Columbia, MO (monthly)
| Monthly | St. Louis, MO-IL | Columbia, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,244 | $1,186 | −$58 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $192 | $192 | $0 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of St. Louis. | $58 | $0 | −$58 |
| Take-home pay | $4,589 | $4,647 | +$58 |
| Housing | $1,104 | $959 | −$145 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,104 | $959 | −$145 |
| Food | $441 | $415 | −$26 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 94.2 | $441 | $415 | −$26 |
| 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 | $27 | $25 | −$2 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 4.225% on other goods; 1.225% on groceries — local add-ons not modeled | $27 | $25 | −$2 |
| Other goods & services | $993 | $936 | −$57 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 94.2 | $500 | $471 | −$29 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 93.0 | $493 | $465 | −$28 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $1,860 | $2,148 | +$288 |
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 16.6% of income in St. Louis, MO-IL and 15.6% in Columbia, MO.
Childcare is priced in St. Louis, MO-IL ($1,632/month) but has no data in Columbia, MO, so it is left out there — the comparison understates the salary needed in Columbia, MO by roughly that cost.
St. Louis, MO-IL Columbia, MO (monthly)
| Monthly | St. Louis, MO-IL | Columbia, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,663 | $1,563 | −$100 |
| 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 | $328 | $328 | $0 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of St. Louis. | $100 | $0 | −$100 |
| Take-home pay | $8,337 | $8,437 | +$100 |
| Housing | $1,349 | $1,076 | −$273 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,349 | $1,076 | −$273 |
| Childcare | $1,632 | not included | — |
| Childcare, center-based — not includedDOL NDCP 2020 / DOL NDCP 2022 · DOL’s National Database of Childcare Prices has no price for Boone County, MO in any year from 2018 to 2022 (most Missouri counties have no NDCP prices for those years). Childcare is excluded from this budget, not priced at $0. | $1,632 | not included | — |
| Food | $1,283 | $1,208 | −$74 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 94.2 | $1,283 | $1,208 | −$74 |
| 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 | $37 | $35 | −$2 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 4.225% on other goods; 1.225% on groceries — local add-ons not modeled | $37 | $35 | −$2 |
| Other goods & services | $993 | $936 | −$57 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 94.2 | $500 | $471 | −$29 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 93.0 | $493 | $465 | −$28 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $2,715 | $4,854 | +$2,139 |
St. Louis, MO-IL vs Columbia, MO at a glance
| Measure | St. Louis, MO-IL | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 95.1 | 89.4 |
| Housing price level | 79.0 | 69.2 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,104 | $959 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,349 | $1,076 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,731 | $1,459 |
| Median home value | $244,800 | $258,700 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 1.20% | 0.83% |
| Median household income | $80,196 | $72,340 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $219 (2020 price) | no DOL data |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | St. Louis | None in our data |
| State sales tax | 4.225% | 4.225% |
| Regular gasoline | $4.11 | $4.11 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $138 | $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 Columbia, MO to keep my St. Louis, MO-IL lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in St. Louis, MO-IL, about $64,986 in Columbia, MO (−7.2%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $86,074. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs. Caveat for the family: Childcare is priced in St. Louis, MO-IL ($1,632/month) but has no data in Columbia, MO, so it is left out there — the comparison understates the salary needed in Columbia, MO by roughly that cost.
Is Columbia, MO cheaper than St. Louis, MO-IL?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, Columbia, MO is at 89.4 and St. Louis, MO-IL at 95.1 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have +$288 a month in Columbia, MO.
How many people move from St. Louis, MO-IL to Columbia, MO?+
About 3,393 people a year (±574), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020).
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.