St. Joseph, MO vs University City, MO

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. St. Joseph is 27% cheaper than University City. With a cost index of 69 vs 95, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from St. Joseph to University City should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in St. Joseph is $884/month compared to $1,265/month in University City — a 30% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Joseph is more affordable at $144,200 median vs $285,100.

Median household income in St. Joseph is $55,578 compared to $76,466 in University City (-27.3%). While University City 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. Joseph spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in University City.