City comparison
Yes. San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 161 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and St Louis is significant: $146,427 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $997 in St Louis.
San Jose 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 San Jose 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
San Jose and St Louis are 1,720 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $997 a month in St Louis, down $1,672 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $56,160 in St Louis, down $90,267 (62%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 352 in St Louis, up 195 points (124%).
The move
St Louis and San Jose are 1,720 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $1,672 a month (168%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $146,427 in San Jose, up $90,267 (161%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 157 in San Jose, down 195 points (55%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
63% cheaper
St Louis rent is 63% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $2,669 in San Jose, so St Louis is 63% cheaper. That's roughly $1,672/month back in your pocket ($20,064/year). Over five years that's $100,320 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 San Jose, 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 San Jose? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
161% higher
San Jose's median income is 161% higher than St Louis
San Jose
Winner$146,427
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 161% higher in San Jose (about $90,267 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, San Jose 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
San Jose's crime index is 55% lower than St Louis
San Jose
Winner157 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
San Jose's crime index is 157 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in San Jose. 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, San Jose 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
San Jose weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
San Jose
Winner66°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
San Jose averages about 66°F (76°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). San Jose sits near 66°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. San Jose 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 161% higher ($146,427), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Jose 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 (157 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 63% 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
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts San Jose by $1,672/month ($997 vs $2,669). I would not pick San Jose on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below San Jose's $2,669, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 46/100 in San Jose and 22/100 in St Louis.
St Louis is the default on housing cost at $997/month versus $2,669 in San Jose; San Jose stays in play when $146,427 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,672 lease gap.
Common questions
Ready to move to San Jose?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for San Jose when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and St Louis, plus other cities in CA and MO.
