Independence, MO vs St. Louis, MO

Independence, MO and St. Louis, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.5% difference in their overall index. Independence scores 78 while St. Louis scores 78 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Independence is $1,061/month compared to $978/month in St. Louis — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Louis has cheaper rent, Independence actually has lower median home values ($166,400 vs $185,100).

Median household income in Independence is $59,480 compared to $55,279 in St. Louis (+7.6%). While Independence is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Independence spend roughly 21.4% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in St. Louis.