City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data for St Louis and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where St Louis and St Petersburg split most clearly. St Petersburg scores 187 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg 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 St Petersburg 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
St Louis and St Petersburg are 858 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $666 a month (67%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $19,032 (34%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 165 in St Petersburg, down 187 points (53%).
The move
St Petersburg and St Louis are 858 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $997 a month in St Louis, down $666 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $56,160 in St Louis, down $19,032 (25%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 352 in St Louis, up 187 points (113%).
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Louis and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
St Louis rent is 40% cheaper than St Petersburg
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so St Louis is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $666/month back in your pocket ($7,992/year). Over five years that's $39,960 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 St Petersburg, 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 Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 34% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 34% higher in St Petersburg (about $19,032 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, St Petersburg 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
53% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 53% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in St Petersburg. 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, St Petersburg 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
St Petersburg weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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
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 40% 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.
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 34% higher ($75,192), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than St Louis (165 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $997/month in St Louis versus $1,663 in St Petersburg. Median income reads $56,160 in St Louis and $75,192 in St Petersburg, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Petersburg vs 22/100 in St Louis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 58°F in St Louis and 77°F in St Petersburg.
If housing cost drives your move, St Louis is the stronger match ($997/month rent against $1,663). If an employer or family tie already points to St Petersburg, treat $1,663/month rent and $75,192 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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