St. Louis vs Stockholm
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Stockholm
The Verdict
St. Louis is 7.2% less expensive than Stockholm overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Louis would need approximately $80,833 in Stockholm 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 St. Louis has the same purchasing power as $80,833 in Stockholm.
Conversely, $75,000 in Stockholm equals $69,588 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Stockholm
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is lower Stockholm's 118, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $445,000. The $270,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,556 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $1,500/mo in Stockholm, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 92 in Stockholm. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis vs $437/month in Stockholm. 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 95 in St. Louis and 88 in Stockholm. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $352 in Stockholm. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis and 82 in Stockholm. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $45,782 in St. Louis and $50,000 in Stockholm. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 and $51,546 respectively. Stockholm residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,068/month to housing in St. Louis vs $1,167/month in Stockholm. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Stockholm, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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