Akron vs St. Louis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Akron
St. Louis
The Verdict
Akron is 10.0% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in Akron would need approximately $83,333 in St. Louis to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Akron has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in St. Louis.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $67,500 in Akron.
Living in Akron vs St. Louis
Housing Costs
Akron's housing index of 60 is lower St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $146,000 vs $175,000. The $29,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,884 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Akron compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 106 in Akron and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Akron vs $461/month in St. Louis. St. Louis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 80 in Akron and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $320 in Akron vs $380 in St. Louis. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 88 in Akron and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,500 in Akron and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,877 and $50,869 respectively. Akron residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,132/month to housing in Akron vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Akron, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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