Peoria vs St. Louis
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Peoria
St. Louis
The Verdict
St. Louis is 25.6% less expensive than Peoria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Peoria would need approximately $59,735 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 Peoria has the same purchasing power as $59,735 in St. Louis.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $94,167 in Peoria.
Living in Peoria vs St. Louis
Housing Costs
Peoria's housing index of 149 is higher St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $495,000 vs $175,000. The $320,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Peoria compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Peoria and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Peoria 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 106 in Peoria and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Peoria 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 86 in Peoria and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $97,300 in Peoria and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,106 and $50,869 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,270/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Peoria, 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 77 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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