City Comparison

Killeen vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

Texas
84
Very Affordable
$235,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$56,400
Median Income

St. Louis

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

The Verdict

6.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 6.7%, with Killeen being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to $80,357 in St. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
56
Killeen
72
St. Louis
Groceries
96
Killeen
97
St. Louis
Utilities
108
Killeen
95
St. Louis
Transportation
95
Killeen
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
96
Killeen
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Killeen has the same purchasing power as $80,357 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $70,000 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower 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: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen 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 108 in Killeen and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen 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 Killeen 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 $56,400 in Killeen and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 and $50,869 respectively. Killeen residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Killeen, median rent of $975/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 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Killeen is 6.7% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,357 in St. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 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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