City Comparison

Canton vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Canton

Ohio
79
Very Affordable
$120,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$41,500
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

12.2%

Living in Canton costs 12.2% less than St. Louis. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Canton, you would need $85,443 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
48
Canton
72
St. Louis
Groceries
104
Canton
97
St. Louis
Utilities
101
Canton
95
St. Louis
Transportation
94
Canton
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
103
Canton
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Canton has the same purchasing power as $85,443 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $65,833 in Canton.

Living in Canton vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Canton's housing index of 48 is lower St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $175,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton vs $461/month in St. Louis. St. Louis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Canton and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Canton 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 $41,500 in Canton and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 and $50,869 respectively. Canton residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Canton, median rent of $775/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 Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canton is 12.2% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Canton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,443 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Canton's housing index is 48 with median homes at $120,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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