Macon vs St. Louis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Macon
St. Louis
The Verdict
Macon is 15.6% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in Macon would need approximately $88,816 in St. Louis to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Macon has the same purchasing power as $88,816 in St. Louis.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $63,333 in Macon.
Living in Macon vs St. Louis
Housing Costs
Macon's housing index of 44 is lower St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $194,000 vs $175,000. The $19,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,236 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Macon compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Macon and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Macon 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 102 in Macon and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Macon vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Macon and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $47,000 in Macon and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,842 and $50,869 respectively. Macon residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,097/month to housing in Macon vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Macon, median rent of $1,050/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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases