City Comparison

Denton vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Denton

Texas
108
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$73,700
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

20.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 20.0%, with St. Louis being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Denton has equivalent purchasing power to $62,500 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
126
Denton
72
St. Louis
Groceries
98
Denton
97
St. Louis
Utilities
90
Denton
95
St. Louis
Transportation
87
Denton
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
81
Denton
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Denton has the same purchasing power as $62,500 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $90,000 in Denton.

Living in Denton vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Denton's housing index of 126 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $175,000. The $210,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,656 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,425/mo in Denton compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Denton and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Denton 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 90 in Denton and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Denton vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 81 in Denton and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $73,700 in Denton and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $68,241 and $50,869 respectively. Denton residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,720/month to housing in Denton vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Denton, median rent of $1,425/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 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Louis is 20.0% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 108.
A $75,000 salary in Denton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,500 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Denton's housing index is 126 with median homes at $385,000, 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