St. Louis vs Topeka
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Topeka
The Verdict
Topeka is 8.4% less expensive than St. Louis overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Louis would need approximately $69,167 in Topeka 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 $69,167 in Topeka.
Conversely, $75,000 in Topeka equals $81,325 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Topeka
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is higher Topeka's 55, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $175,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $900/mo in Topeka, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 98 in Topeka. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis vs $466/month in Topeka. 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 97 in Topeka. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $388 in Topeka. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis and 96 in Topeka. 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 $45,782 in St. Louis and $55,500 in Topeka. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 and $66,867 respectively. Topeka 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 $1,295/month in Topeka. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Topeka, median rent of $900/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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