St. Louis vs Vancouver
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
St. Louis
Vancouver
The Verdict
St. Louis is 26.2% less expensive than Vancouver overall. A household earning $75,000 in St. Louis would need approximately $101,667 in Vancouver 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 $101,667 in Vancouver.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vancouver equals $55,328 in St. Louis.
Living in St. Louis vs Vancouver
Housing Costs
St. Louis's housing index of 72 is lower Vancouver's 163, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $525,000. The $350,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,752 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in St. Louis compared to $1,650/mo in Vancouver, a monthly difference of $650.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in St. Louis and 104 in Vancouver. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in St. Louis vs $494/month in Vancouver. St. Louis offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in St. Louis and 87 in Vancouver. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in St. Louis vs $348 in Vancouver. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in St. Louis and 103 in Vancouver. 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 $79,300 in Vancouver. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,869 and $65,000 respectively. Vancouver 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 $1,850/month in Vancouver. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Vancouver, median rent of $1,650/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 91 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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