City Comparison

Juneau vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

41.1%

Living in St. Louis costs 41.1% less than Juneau. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Juneau, you would need $53,150 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
131
Juneau
72
St. Louis
Groceries
123
Juneau
97
St. Louis
Utilities
140
Juneau
95
St. Louis
Transportation
125
Juneau
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
151
Juneau
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $53,150 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $105,833 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $175,000. The $349,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $461/month in St. Louis. St. Louis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1476/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau 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 151 in Juneau and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 56-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $50,869 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/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 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St. Louis is 41.1% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,150 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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