City comparison
Yes. New York's crime index is 169 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 195 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
Safety is where New York and St Louis split most clearly. New York scores 183 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,821 in New York and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and New York 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
New York and St Louis are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $997 a month in St Louis, down $824 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $56,160 in St Louis, down $24,323 (30%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 352 in St Louis, up 183 points (108%).
The move
St Louis and New York are 872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,821 a month in New York, up $824 a month (83%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $80,483 in New York, up $24,323 (43%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 169 in New York, down 183 points (52%).
New York, NY
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 New York and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
45% cheaper
St Louis rent is 45% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,821 in New York, so St Louis is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $824/month back in your pocket ($9,888/year). Over five years that's $49,440 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 New York, 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
43% higher
New York's median income is 43% higher than St Louis
New York
Winner$80,483
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 43% higher in New York (about $24,323 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, New York 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
52% lower crime
New York's crime index is 52% lower than St Louis
New York
Winner169 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
New York's crime index is 169 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in New York. 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, New York 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
25% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
New York averages about 52°F (58°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). New York averages around 52°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 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 New York 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
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 43% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
New York is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than St Louis (169 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 45% 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 New York on this page's weather index by 25%. New York may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $997/month in St Louis versus $1,821 in New York. Median income reads $56,160 in St Louis and $80,483 in New York, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below New York's $1,821, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $80,483 in New York versus $56,160 in St Louis.
St Louis clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. New York deserves a serious look only when your $80,483 income offer in New York outweighs saving $824/month in St Louis.
Common questions
Ready to move to St Louis?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for St Louis when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and St Louis, plus other cities in NY and MO.
