Is St Louis cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in St Louis is $1,218 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $52,941 in St Louis compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, St Louis or Dallas?

Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 116 in St Louis — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, St Louis or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in St Louis and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

St Louis, MO vs Dallas, TX

St Louis, MO versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,218 a month in St Louis and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $52,941 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

St Louis takes affordability and weather, while Dallas takes job market and safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where St Louis leads by 78% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in St Louis can feel further apart than St Louis and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the St Louis and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full St Louis report Full Dallas report

St Louis, MO

Rent: $1,218/mo
Median income: $52,941
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

37% cheaper

St Louis rent is 37% cheaper than Dallas

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $1,931 in Dallas, so St Louis is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $713/month back in your pocket — $8,556/year. Over five years that's $42,780 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 Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

21% higher

Dallas's median income is 21% higher than St Louis

St Louis

$52,941

Dallas

Winner

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas versus $52,941 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Dallas — about $11,044 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, Dallas 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

6% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 6% lower than St Louis

St Louis

116 (100 = avg)

Dallas

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 109 versus 116 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Louis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

St Louis and Dallas are about even on school scores.

St Louis

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in St Louis, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

78% more comfortable

St Louis weather is 78% more comfortable than Dallas

St Louis

Winner

78°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

St Louis scores 78% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 78°F in St Louis and 92°F in Dallas. St Louis reads as warm weather most of the year; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. St Louis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose St Louis

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 37% cheaper here at about $1,218 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 (78°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 78%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the St Louis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 21% higher here ($63,985). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than St Louis (109 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.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

St Louis vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, St Louis is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, St Louis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

St Louis vs Dallas FAQ

Is St Louis cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in St Louis is $1,218 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $52,941 in St Louis compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, St Louis or Dallas?: Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 116 in St Louis — 6% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, St Louis or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in St Louis and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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