Columbia, MO vs St. Louis, MO

St. Louis is moderately more affordable than Columbia, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. Columbia scores 86 compared to 78 for St. Louis, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Columbia can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Columbia is $1,067/month compared to $978/month in St. Louis — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Louis is more affordable at $185,100 median vs $268,300.

Median household income in Columbia is $64,488 compared to $55,279 in St. Louis (+16.7%). While Columbia is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Columbia spend roughly 19.9% of their income on rent, less than the 21.2% in St. Louis.