City Comparison

Concord vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

California
147
Expensive
$680,000
Median Home
$2,350/mo
Median Rent
$109,000
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

63.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 63.3%, with St. Louis being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to $45,918 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
210
Concord
72
St. Louis
Groceries
112
Concord
97
St. Louis
Utilities
147
Concord
95
St. Louis
Transportation
137
Concord
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
121
Concord
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $45,918 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $122,500 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 210 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $680,000 vs $175,000. The $505,000 difference in home prices means roughly $32,820 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $1,350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 112 in Concord and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Concord vs $461/month in St. Louis. St. Louis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 147 in Concord and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $588 in Concord 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 121 in Concord and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 26-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $109,000 in Concord and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,150 and $50,869 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,543/month to housing in Concord vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Concord, median rent of $2,350/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 138 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Louis is 63.3% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 147.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $45,918 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 210 with median homes at $680,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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