Is St Louis cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in St Louis is $1,218 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 42% cheaper. Median household income is $52,941 in St Louis compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, St Louis or Denver?

St Louis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 137 in Denver — 15% 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 Denver?

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

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City comparison

St Louis, MO vs Denver, CO

St Louis, MO versus Denver, CO 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 $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $52,941 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

St Louis takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Denver leads by 62% — 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 Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the St Louis and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full St Louis report Full Denver report

St Louis, MO

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

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

42% cheaper

St Louis rent is 42% cheaper than Denver

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $2,089 in Denver, so St Louis is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $871/month back in your pocket — $10,452/year. Over five years that's $52,260 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 Denver, 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

62% higher

Denver's median income is 62% higher than St Louis

St Louis

$52,941

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $52,941 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 62% higher in Denver — about $32,912 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, Denver 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

15% lower crime

St Louis's crime index is 15% lower than Denver

St Louis

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

St Louis's crime index is 116 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in St Louis. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Louis, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

St Louis and Denver are about even on school scores.

St Louis

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in St Louis, A- in Denver). 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

14% more comfortable

St Louis weather is 14% more comfortable than Denver

St Louis

Winner

78°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

St Louis scores 14% 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 82°F in Denver. St Louis reads as warm weather most of the year; Denver reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Denver's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

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 42% 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 Denver on this page's weather index by 14%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

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 15% lower than Denver (116 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 St Louis report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 62% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

St Louis vs Denver, called

If the job market is your priority, Denver is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, St Louis pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

St Louis vs Denver FAQ

Is St Louis cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in St Louis is $1,218 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 42% cheaper. Median household income is $52,941 in St Louis compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, St Louis or Denver?: St Louis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 137 in Denver — 15% 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 Denver?: School composites are close: A- in St Louis and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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