CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
MO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Abilene is moderately cheaper than St. Louis — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $84,200 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+7.0%
Abilene
73.8
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries+6.6%
Abilene
93.8
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation+2.5%
Abilene
101.1
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Abilene
91.4
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities13.9%
Abilene
81.2
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in St. Louis to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$84,200
$4,200 more needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 1.0520. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

St. Louis has 7.0% higher housing costs compared to Abilene.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.