Odessa vs St. Louis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Odessa
St. Louis
The Verdict
Odessa is 5.6% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $79,412 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 Odessa has the same purchasing power as $79,412 in St. Louis.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $70,833 in Odessa.
Living in Odessa vs St. Louis
Housing Costs
Odessa's housing index of 72 is equal to St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $175,000. The $48,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa 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 100 in Odessa and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa 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 $73,500 in Odessa and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $50,869 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/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 Transportation, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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