City comparison
Yes. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
The income gap between Sacramento and St Louis is significant: $87,321 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,779 in Sacramento and $997 in St Louis.
Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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
Sacramento and St Louis are 1,682 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $997 a month in St Louis, down $782 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $56,160 in St Louis, down $31,161 (36%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 352 in St Louis, up 171 points (94%).
The move
St Louis and Sacramento are 1,682 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $782 a month (78%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $31,161 (55%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 181 in Sacramento, down 171 points (49%).
Sacramento, 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 Sacramento and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
St Louis rent is 44% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so St Louis is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $782/month back in your pocket ($9,384/year). Over five years that's $46,920 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 Sacramento, 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
55% higher
Sacramento's median income is 55% higher than St Louis
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 55% higher in Sacramento (about $31,161 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, Sacramento 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
49% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 49% lower than St Louis
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in Sacramento. 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, Sacramento 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
Sacramento weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
Sacramento
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Sacramento 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 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 55% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than St Louis (181 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 44% 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
Housing separates these metros first: $997/month in St Louis versus $1,779 in Sacramento. Median income reads $56,160 in St Louis and $87,321 in Sacramento, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $56,160 in St Louis.
St Louis clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Sacramento deserves a serious look only when your $87,321 income offer in Sacramento outweighs saving $782/month in St Louis.
Common questions
Ready to move to Sacramento?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and St Louis, plus other cities in CA and MO.
