City comparison
Los Angeles is safer than St Louis. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and St Louis split most clearly. Los Angeles scores 194 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $997 in St Louis.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and safety and St Louis wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Los Angeles and St Louis are 1,586 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $997 a month in St Louis, down $936 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $56,160 in St Louis, down $25,779 (31%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 352 in St Louis, up 194 points (123%).
The move
St Louis and Los Angeles are 1,586 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $936 a month (94%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $25,779 (46%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 158 in Los Angeles, down 194 points (55%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
48% cheaper
St Louis rent is 48% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so St Louis is 48% cheaper. That's roughly $936/month back in your pocket ($11,232/year). Over five years that's $56,160 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 Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
46% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 46% higher than St Louis
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Los Angeles (about $25,779 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, Los Angeles 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
55% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 55% lower than St Louis
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Los Angeles. 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, Los Angeles 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
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and St Louis are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
78°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
65°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 78°F (85°F highs); St Louis averages about 65°F (75°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 78°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 46% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than St Louis (158 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 48% 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.
Bottom line
Los Angeles runs $1,933/month while St Louis sits at $997 — roughly 48% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Los Angeles-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $56,160 in St Louis.
St Louis is the default on housing cost at $997/month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles; Los Angeles stays in play when $81,939 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $936 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and St Louis, plus other cities in CA and MO.
