City Comparison

Beaumont vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

St. Louis

Missouri
90
Below Average
$175,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$45,782
Median Income

The Verdict

13.3%

Beaumont is 13.3% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $86,538 in St. Louis to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
72
St. Louis
Groceries
96
Beaumont
97
St. Louis
Utilities
102
Beaumont
95
St. Louis
Transportation
93
Beaumont
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $86,538 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $65,000 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $175,000. The $9,000 difference in home prices means roughly $588 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $461/month in St. Louis. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $50,869 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/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 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 13.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,538 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases