St. Louis vs Toronto
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Toronto
The Verdict
Living in St. Louis costs 3.2% less than Toronto. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in St. Louis, you would need $77,500 in Toronto.
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 $77,500 in Toronto.
Conversely, $75,000 in Toronto equals $72,581 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Toronto
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is lower Toronto's 132, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $615,000. The $440,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,596 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $1,825/mo in Toronto, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 88 in Toronto. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis vs $418/month in Toronto. Toronto offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in St. Louis and 85 in Toronto. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $340 in Toronto. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis and 72 in Toronto. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-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 $55,000 in Toronto. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 and $59,140 respectively. Toronto 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 $1,283/month in Toronto. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Toronto, median rent of $1,825/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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