City comparison
Yes. Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 140 versus 376, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for St Louis.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,295 in Columbus.
Safety is where Columbus and St Louis split most clearly. Columbus scores 188 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,295 in Columbus and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Columbus 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
Columbus and St Louis are 396 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $997 a month in St Louis, down $298 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $56,160 in St Louis, down $9,922 (15%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 352 in St Louis, up 188 points (115%).
The move
St Louis and Columbus are 396 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,295 a month in Columbus, up $298 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $66,082 in Columbus, up $9,922 (18%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 164 in Columbus, down 188 points (53%).
Columbus, OH
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 Columbus and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
St Louis rent is 23% cheaper than Columbus
Columbus
$1,295/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,295 in Columbus, so St Louis is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $298/month back in your pocket ($3,576/year). Over five years that's $17,880 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 Columbus, 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
18% higher
Columbus's median income is 18% higher than St Louis
Columbus
Winner$66,082
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $66,082 in Columbus versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Columbus (about $9,922 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, Columbus 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
53% lower crime
Columbus's crime index is 53% lower than St Louis
Columbus
Winner164 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Columbus. 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, Columbus 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
21% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 21% more comfortable than Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Columbus averages around 53°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 21% 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 Columbus 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
Columbus is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($66,082). Start with Columbus if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Columbus is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than St Louis (164 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 23% 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 Columbus on this page's weather index by 21%. Columbus may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 45/100 in Columbus). That 23-point spread matters more than the $298 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Columbus still pays more locally ($66,082 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Columbus rates.
Median income is $66,082 in Columbus versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Columbus clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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Nearby research
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