City comparison
Kansas City and St Louis are about equally safe. Kansas City's crime index is 343 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 423 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
The income gap between Kansas City and St Louis is significant: $69,166 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,238 in Kansas City and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Kansas City 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
Kansas City and St Louis are 238 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $997 a month in St Louis, down $241 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $56,160 in St Louis, down $13,006 (19%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 352 in St Louis, up 9 points (3%).
The move
St Louis and Kansas City are 238 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $241 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $13,006 (23%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 343 in Kansas City, down 9 points (3%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
St Louis rent is 19% cheaper than Kansas City
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so St Louis is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,892, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Kansas City.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Kansas City's median income is 23% higher than St Louis
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Kansas City (about $13,006 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, Kansas City 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
3% lower crime
Kansas City's crime index is 3% lower than St Louis
Kansas City
Winner343 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Kansas City's crime index is 343 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Kansas City. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Kansas City, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Louis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 25% more comfortable than Kansas City
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
St Louis
Winner65°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); St Louis averages about 65°F (75°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis scores 25% 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 Kansas City 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
Kansas City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($69,166). Start with Kansas City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Kansas City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than St Louis (343 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 19% 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 (65°F) beat Kansas City on this page's weather index by 25%. Kansas City may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: St Louis at $997/month versus $1,238 in Kansas City ($241 apart). Kansas City median income is $69,166 against $56,160 in St Louis, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Kansas City's $1,238, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 58°F in Kansas City and 65°F in St Louis.
If housing cost drives your move, St Louis is the stronger match ($997/month rent against $1,238). If an employer or family tie already points to Kansas City, treat $1,238/month rent and $69,166 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and St Louis, plus other cities in MO.
