City Comparison

Gresham vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

42.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 42.2%, with St. Louis being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to $52,734 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
172
Gresham
72
St. Louis
Groceries
101
Gresham
97
St. Louis
Utilities
96
Gresham
95
St. Louis
Transportation
126
Gresham
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
103
Gresham
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $52,734 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $106,667 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $175,000. The $284,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham 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 96 in Gresham and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham 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 $69,600 in Gresham and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 and $50,869 respectively. Gresham residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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 100 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Louis is 42.2% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $52,734 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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