City comparison
Yes. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Safety is where St Paul and St Louis split most clearly. St Paul scores 186 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,281 in St Paul and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and St Paul 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
St Paul and St Louis are 461 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $997 a month in St Louis, down $284 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $56,160 in St Louis, down $17,234 (23%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 352 in St Louis, up 186 points (112%).
The move
St Louis and St Paul are 461 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $284 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $73,394 in St Paul, up $17,234 (31%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 166 in St Paul, down 186 points (53%).
St Paul, MN
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 St Paul and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
St Louis rent is 22% cheaper than St Paul
St Paul
$1,281/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,281 in St Paul, so St Louis is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $284/month back in your pocket ($3,408/year). Over five years that's $17,040 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 Paul, 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
31% higher
St Paul's median income is 31% higher than St Louis
St Paul
Winner$73,394
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 31% higher in St Paul (about $17,234 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 Paul 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 Paul's crime index is 53% lower than St Louis
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in St Paul. 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 Paul 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
38% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 38% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°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 38% 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 Paul 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
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 31% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Paul 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 (166 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 22% 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 St Paul on this page's weather index by 38%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 45/100 in St Paul). That 23-point spread matters more than the $284 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
St Paul still pays more locally ($73,394 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Paul rates.
Median income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Pick St Paul when you want the stronger safety signal (45/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
Common questions
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