City comparison
No. St Louis's crime index is 352 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 376 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
The income gap between Oakland and St Louis is significant: $101,600 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,979 in Oakland and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Oakland 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
Oakland and St Louis are 1,733 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $997 a month in St Louis, down $982 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $56,160 in St Louis, down $45,440 (45%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 352 in St Louis, down 82 points (19%).
The move
St Louis and Oakland are 1,733 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $982 a month (98%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $101,600 in Oakland, up $45,440 (81%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 434 in Oakland, up 82 points (23%).
Oakland, 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 Oakland and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
50% cheaper
St Louis rent is 50% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,979 in Oakland, so St Louis is 50% cheaper. That's roughly $982/month back in your pocket ($11,784/year). Over five years that's $58,920 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 Oakland, 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
81% higher
Oakland's median income is 81% higher than St Louis
Oakland
Winner$101,600
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 81% higher in Oakland (about $45,440 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, Oakland 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
19% lower crime
St Louis's crime index is 19% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
St Louis
Winner352 (100 = avg)
St Louis's crime index is 352 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in St Louis. 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, St Louis is the easier city. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 18% more comfortable than St Louis
Oakland
Winner63°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 94/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Oakland averages about 63°F (75°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Oakland averages around 63°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oakland 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 81% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 50% 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.
St Louis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Oakland (352 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.
Bottom line
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts Oakland by $982/month ($997 vs $1,979). I would not pick Oakland on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 15/100 in Oakland and 22/100 in St Louis.
Between Oakland and St Louis, St Louis is ahead on housing cost — $997/month rent against $1,979. Lean Oakland instead when your $101,600 income offer in Oakland outweighs saving $982/month in St Louis.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and St Louis, plus other cities in CA and MO.
