City comparison
Yes. Anchorage's crime index is 240 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 295 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,489 in Anchorage.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Anchorage and St Louis. Anchorage averages 37°F while St Louis averages 58°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,489 versus $997.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Anchorage pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anchorage and St Louis are 2,939 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $997 a month in St Louis, down $492 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $56,160 in St Louis, down $47,124 (46%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 352 in St Louis, up 112 points (47%).
The move
St Louis and Anchorage are 2,939 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, up $492 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $103,284 in Anchorage, up $47,124 (84%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 240 in Anchorage, down 112 points (32%).
Anchorage, AK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anchorage and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
St Louis rent is 33% cheaper than Anchorage
Anchorage
$1,489/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,489 in Anchorage, so St Louis is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $492/month back in your pocket ($5,904/year). Over five years that's $29,520 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anchorage, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
84% higher
Anchorage's median income is 84% higher than St Louis
Anchorage
Winner$103,284
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 84% higher in Anchorage (about $47,124 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anchorage is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Anchorage's crime index is 32% lower than St Louis
Anchorage
Winner240 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Anchorage's crime index is 240 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Anchorage. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anchorage is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
264% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 264% more comfortable than Anchorage
Anchorage
37°F avg · 42°F highs · comfort 22/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Anchorage averages about 37°F (42°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Anchorage averages around 37°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis scores 264% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Anchorage if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 84% higher here ($103,284). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anchorage is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than St Louis (240 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick St Louis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Anchorage on this page's weather index by 264%. Anchorage may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On weather alone, St Louis is the warmer market (58°F) and Anchorage the cooler (37°F). Typical leases run $997 and $1,489; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Anchorage's $1,489, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,489 in Anchorage.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in St Louis; Anchorage only makes sense when 37°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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