Peoria vs St. Louis

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 $88,816 in St. Louis.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Louis equals $63,333 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 42 is lower St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $164,000 vs $175,000. The $11,000 difference in home prices means roughly $720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Peoria compared to $1,000/mo in St. Louis, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Peoria and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/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 103 in Peoria and 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Peoria vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 107 in Peoria and 95 in St. Louis. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $58,700 in Peoria and $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,237 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 $1,370/month to housing in Peoria vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/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 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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