St. Louis vs Toledo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Toledo
The Verdict
Toledo is 16.9% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Louis would need approximately $64,167 in Toledo 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 $64,167 in Toledo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $87,662 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Toledo
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $128,000. The $47,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis and 84 in Toledo. 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 $45,782 in St. Louis and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 and $54,805 respectively. Toledo 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 $985/month in Toledo. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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