City Comparison

Hillsboro vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hillsboro

Oregon
128
Expensive
$533,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$106,700
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%

Living in St. Louis costs 42.2% less than Hillsboro. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hillsboro, you would need $52,734 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
175
Hillsboro
72
St. Louis
Groceries
108
Hillsboro
97
St. Louis
Utilities
96
Hillsboro
95
St. Louis
Transportation
126
Hillsboro
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
103
Hillsboro
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Hillsboro vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $175,000. The $358,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,268 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $725.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro vs $461/month in St. Louis. St. Louis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hillsboro and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro 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 $106,700 in Hillsboro and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 and $50,869 respectively. Hillsboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/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 103 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 Hillsboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $52,734 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Hillsboro's housing index is 175 with median homes at $533,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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