City Comparison

Green Bay vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

4.4%

Living in Green Bay costs 4.4% less than St. Louis. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Green Bay, you would need $78,488 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
72
Green Bay
72
St. Louis
Groceries
98
Green Bay
97
St. Louis
Utilities
84
Green Bay
95
St. Louis
Transportation
102
Green Bay
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
96
Green Bay
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Green Bay has the same purchasing power as $78,488 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $71,667 in Green Bay.

Living in Green Bay vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Green Bay's housing index of 72 is equal to St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $175,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Green Bay compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Green Bay and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Green Bay 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 84 in Green Bay and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $336 in Green Bay 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 96 in Green Bay 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 $55,200 in Green Bay and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,186 and $50,869 respectively. Green Bay residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,288/month to housing in Green Bay vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/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 Utilities, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Green Bay is 4.4% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Green Bay has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,488 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Green Bay's housing index is 72 with median homes at $235,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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