St. Louis vs Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Tuscaloosa
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 1.1%, with Tuscaloosa being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in St. Louis has equivalent purchasing power to $74,167 in Tuscaloosa.
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 $74,167 in Tuscaloosa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tuscaloosa equals $75,843 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Tuscaloosa
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is lower Tuscaloosa's 74, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $265,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $1,050/mo in Tuscaloosa, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 98 in Tuscaloosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis vs $466/month in Tuscaloosa. 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 96 in Tuscaloosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $384 in Tuscaloosa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis and 87 in Tuscaloosa. 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 $49,500 in Tuscaloosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 and $55,618 respectively. Tuscaloosa 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 $1,155/month in Tuscaloosa. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Tuscaloosa, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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