City comparison
Yes. Seattle's crime index is 252 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and St Louis is significant: $123,860 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Seattle 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
Seattle and St Louis are 1,720 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $997 a month in St Louis, down $1,033 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $56,160 in St Louis, down $67,700 (55%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 352 in St Louis, up 100 points (40%).
The move
St Louis and Seattle are 1,720 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $1,033 a month (104%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $123,860 in Seattle, up $67,700 (121%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 252 in Seattle, down 100 points (28%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
51% cheaper
St Louis rent is 51% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $2,030 in Seattle, so St Louis is 51% cheaper. That's roughly $1,033/month back in your pocket ($12,396/year). Over five years that's $61,980 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 Seattle, 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
121% higher
Seattle's median income is 121% higher than St Louis
Seattle
Winner$123,860
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 121% higher in Seattle (about $67,700 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, Seattle 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
28% lower crime
Seattle's crime index is 28% lower than St Louis
Seattle
Winner252 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Seattle's crime index is 252 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Seattle. 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, Seattle 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
11% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 11% more comfortable than Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Seattle averages around 55°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 11% 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 121% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Seattle is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than St Louis (252 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 51% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 11%. Seattle may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts Seattle by $1,033/month ($997 vs $2,030). I would not pick Seattle on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 32/100 in Seattle and 22/100 in St Louis.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in St Louis; Seattle only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Seattle at $123,860 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and St Louis, plus other cities in WA and MO.
