St. Louis, MO at a glance
Median household income
$56,160$4,680 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in St. Louis, MO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $955 | $11,460 | $38,200 | 20.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $995 | $11,940 | $39,800 | 21.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,218 | $14,616 | $48,720 | 26% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,568 | $18,816 | $62,720 | 33.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,812 | $21,744 | $72,480 | 38.7% |
What a typical income covers in St. Louis, MO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $56,160 a year ($4,680 a month before tax).
What $56,160 leaves after Missouri taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Missouri tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Missouri
Living in St. Louis, MO: common questions
What is the median household income in St. Louis, MO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in St. Louis, MO is $56,160 per year (approximately $4,680 per month).
What is the average rent in St. Louis, MO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $955 for a studio, $995 for one bedroom, $1,218 for two, $1,568 for three and $1,812 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is St. Louis, MO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 4.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 95.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
To keep a $1,218 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $48,720 a year, or $4,060 a month. That is 87% of what the typical household in St. Louis, MO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in St. Louis, MO?
On the local median income of $56,160 ($4,680 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,340 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,404 for everything else and $936 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,218 takes 52% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in St. Louis, MO?
Homes in Missouri paid 16.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $146. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.