dayblip

Louisville vs St. Louis

Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data

Compare a different city:

VS

QUICK ANSWER

St. Louis is 1% more expensive than Louisville overall.Louisville has a cost of living index of 87 vs St. Louis at 88 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing Louisville costs 2% more.

Pierre
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Louisville
KY
87
COLI index
VS
St. Louis
MO
88
COLI index

Category Breakdown

CategoryLouisvilleSt. LouisDifference
Overall COLI8788+1%
Housing8280-2%
Groceries101101Same
Transport100100Same
Healthcare102102Same
Utilities105107+2%

Median 1BR Rent

Louisville
$1,100/mo
St. Louis
$1,050/mo

Median Home Price

Louisville
$210,000
St. Louis
$205,000

Median Household Income

Louisville
$52,439
St. Louis
$48,438

Share Your Result

Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family

Frequently Asked Questions

Louisville is cheaper to live in overall. Louisville has a cost of living index of 87 while St. Louis has an index of 88, where 100 represents the US national average. St. Louis is 1% more expensive than Louisville overall.

The median 1-bedroom rent in Louisville is $1,100 per month compared to $1,050 in St. Louis. The median home price in Louisville is $210,000 versus $205,000 in St. Louis. Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities.

Louisville has a cost of living index of 87 and St. Louis has an index of 88, both measured against a US national average of 100. An index above 100 means more expensive than the national average — below 100 means cheaper.

To maintain the same purchasing power as a salary in Louisville, multiply by 1.01. For example a $75,000 salary in Louisville is equivalent to approximately $75,862 in St. Louis.

Louisville has a median household income of $52,439 per year versus $48,438 in St. Louis. Higher incomes must be weighed against cost of living. Use the Dayblip salary tools to see specific job salaries in both cities.

Whether moving from Louisville to St. Louis is worthwhile depends on your salary, lifestyle, and priorities. St. Louis is 1% more expensive overall — with the biggest difference in housing. Use the Dayblip cost of living calculator to enter your specific salary and see the exact dollar impact.

Last updated: June 2026

Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.