City comparison
Yes. Miami's crime index is 140 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,758 in Miami.
Safety is where Miami and St Louis split most clearly. Miami scores 212 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,758 in Miami and $997 in St Louis.
Miami is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Miami is the stronger move.
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
Miami and St Louis are 1,062 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,758 a month in Miami to $997 a month in St Louis, down $761 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $62,462 in Miami to $56,160 in St Louis, down $6,302 (10%).
The crime index goes from 140 in Miami to 352 in St Louis, up 212 points (151%).
The move
St Louis and Miami are 1,062 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,758 a month in Miami, up $761 a month (76%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $62,462 in Miami, up $6,302 (11%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 140 in Miami, down 212 points (60%).
Miami, FL
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 Miami and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
St Louis rent is 43% cheaper than Miami
Miami
$1,758/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,758 in Miami, so St Louis is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $761/month back in your pocket ($9,132/year). Over five years that's $45,660 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 Miami, 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 Miami? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Miami's median income is 11% higher than St Louis
Miami
Winner$62,462
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $62,462 in Miami versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Miami (about $6,302 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, Miami 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
60% lower crime
Miami's crime index is 60% lower than St Louis
Miami
Winner140 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Miami's crime index is 140 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Miami. 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, Miami 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
18% more comfortable
Miami weather is 18% more comfortable than St Louis
Miami
Winner81°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 94/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Miami averages about 81°F (83°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Miami averages around 81°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Miami scores 18% 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 St Louis 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 11% higher ($62,462), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 81°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Miami is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than St Louis (140 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 43% 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
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 50/100 in Miami). That 28-point spread matters more than the $761 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Miami still pays more locally ($62,462 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Miami rates.
Weather averages land near 81°F in Miami and 58°F in St Louis.
Pick Miami when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Miami and St Louis, plus other cities in FL and MO.
