St. Charles, MO vs Wildwood, MO

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. St. Charles is 23% cheaper than Wildwood. With a cost index of 92 vs 120, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from St. Charles to Wildwood should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in St. Charles is $1,186/month compared to $1,575/month in Wildwood — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Charles is more affordable at $280,800 median vs $472,800.

Median household income in St. Charles is $85,522 compared to $157,750 in Wildwood (-45.8%). While Wildwood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Charles spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, more than the 12% in Wildwood.