Denver vs St. Louis Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses
To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Denver, you'd need about $89,900 in St. Louis — a $10,100 saving per year.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
Equivalent Salary: Denver → St. Louis
The salary you'd need in St. Louis to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Denver, using the BEA price ratio of 0.899.
| Salary in Denver | Equivalent in St. Louis | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $44,900 | −$5,100 |
| $75,000 | $67,400 | −$7,600 |
| $100,000 | $89,900 | −$10,100 |
| $150,000 | $134,800 | −$15,200 |
| $200,000 | $179,800 | −$20,200 |
Denver vs St. Louis: What the Numbers Mean
Moving from Denver, CO to St. Louis, MO means your everyday costs are cheaper by roughly 10.1%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Denver's overall price level at 105.8 and St. Louis's at 95.1, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $5,415 per month in Denver would spend about $4,834 for the equivalent lifestyle in St. Louis — a swing of $581 every month, or $6,972 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,319 in Denver against $1,915 in St. Louis. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 10.1% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Denver has the same purchasing power as $89,900 in St. Louis. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in St. Louis is worth about $111,300 in Denver terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Cost of living compares prices across places at one point in time. The related question — how prices in one place have changed over time — is answered by inflation. To see what an income or price from an earlier decade is worth in today's money, see what old money is worth today, which converts any amount from 1913 onward using Consumer Price Index data.
Don't forget state taxes
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between CO and MO.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Louis more expensive than Denver?
St. Louis is 10.1% cheaper than Denver overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Denver has a price level of 105.8 versus 95.1 for St. Louis, where 100 equals the national average.
What salary do I need in St. Louis to match $100,000 in Denver?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Denver, you would need about $89,900 in St. Louis — a difference of $10,100 per year.
Which costs more, housing in Denver or St. Louis?
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,319 in Denver versus $1,915 in St. Louis. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.
Sources & methodology
Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2024, released February 2026). Denver maps to the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA; St. Louis maps to the St. Louis, MO-IL MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.