Dublin vs St. Louis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Dublin
St. Louis
The Verdict
Living in St. Louis costs 15.6% less than Dublin. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Dublin, you would need $64,904 in St. Louis.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Dublin has the same purchasing power as $64,904 in St. Louis.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $86,667 in Dublin.
Living in Dublin vs St. Louis
Housing Costs
Dublin's housing index of 128 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $470,000 vs $175,000. The $295,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Dublin compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $1,125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Dublin and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Dublin 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 110 in Dublin and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Dublin 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 82 in Dublin and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,000 in Dublin and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,846 and $50,869 respectively. Dublin residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,307/month to housing in Dublin vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Dublin, median rent of $2,125/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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