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Saint Louis
#26 of 124
North America

Saint Louis

MO, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Saint Louis compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Saint Louis is 23% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Saint Louis compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$115,000
-$158K (-58%) vs San Francisco
Based on 129 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$81,535
-$91K (-53%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 29%

Community Insights

New
6.8/10

Saint Louis presents a polarizing but potentially rewarding value proposition for software engineers. Economically, it is a powerhouse of affordability, boasting a #1 ranking in housing affordability that allows tech workers to achieve homeownership rapidly. The tech scene is stable and specialized, anchored by major enterprise players in defense, finance, and ag-tech, rather than the volatile startup culture of the coasts. The Cortex Innovation District stands out as a growing hub for collaboration.

However, safety remains the primary deterrent. The city's low safety index (#120/124) reflects real challenges, though residents frequently note that violent crime is hyper-localized. The universal advice for living here is 'situational awareness' and never leaving valuables in cars. For those who can navigate the street-smart requirements, the city offers a rich cultural life with incredible food, historic charm, and a tight-knit community feel that many transplants fall in love with.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 1%

#1

of 124 cities

≈1.6 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 21%

#26

of 124 cities

Pollution Score

Top 29%

#36

of 124 cities

37.5/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Saint Louis compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$1,652 / m²
83% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Saint Louis to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
39% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Saint Louis

Bayer logo
Bayer
AT&T logo
AT&T
Equifax logo
Equifax
Unbeatable Housing Affordability: Consistently ranked as one of the most affordable cities in the US, allowing engineers to buy historic brick homes or luxury condos for a fraction of the cost in coastal hubs.
  • High Purchasing Power: With high local salaries relative to the cost of living, disposable income is significantly higher than national averages.
  • Niche Tech Hubs: Strong presence in AgTech (Bayer), BioTech (Cortex District), and Geospatial intelligence (NGA), offering specialized career paths beyond generic web dev.
  • World-Class Free Amenities: Home to Forest Park (larger than Central Park), a top-rated free Zoo, Art Museum, and Science Center, providing high-value leisure without cost.
  • Distinct Neighborhood Character: unique, walkable pockets like Central West End, Tower Grove, and Soulard offer vibrant community vibes, historic architecture, and local festivals.
  • Remote Work 'Cheat Code': An ideal base for remote workers earning coastal salaries, enabling a lavish lifestyle that would be impossible elsewhere.

    • The Bad

    • High Crime Rates: The city consistently ranks poorly on safety indices; while violent crime is often concentrated, property crime (specifically car break-ins and theft) is a widespread daily concern.
    • City vs. County Divide: A sharp fragmentation exists between St. Louis City and St. Louis County, creating disparities in services, schools, and safety that can be confusing for newcomers.
    • Limited Public Transit: Outside of the central corridor (Metrolink), the region is heavily car-dependent with limited reliable options for commuting without a vehicle.
    • Humid Weather: Summers are notoriously hot and humid, while winters can be gray and icy, lacking the mild consistency of tech hubs like the Bay Area.
    • Limited 'Big Tech' Presence: While stable enterprise jobs (MasterCard, Boeing) abound, there are fewer opportunities for 'rocket ship' career growth at major consumer tech firms.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Domestic relocation is seamless, with a rental market that is far less competitive than major hubs. For international movers, St. Louis is uniquely welcoming due to the St. Louis Mosaic Project, an initiative specifically designed to connect immigrants with jobs and professional networks. English is the exclusive business language. The expat community is smaller than in global cities but is tight-knit, particularly within the university (WashU, SLU) and medical research ecosystems.

    Who Is This City For?

    Remote workers looking to maximize disposable income and buy a home immediately; BioTech/AgTech specialists; and families willing to live in the safer suburbs (County) while commuting to tech hubs. It is less ideal for young singles expecting a walkable, 24/7 safe urban environment or those seeking rapid 'Big Tech' ladder climbing.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather4.3/10-51% vs San Francisco
    Safety30-24%
    Pollution37-24%
    Events0-100%
    4.3/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    19°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    9°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,600h/yr-462h/yr(-15%)
    Hottest Month High
    32°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    -4°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    96/yr+47/yr(+97%)

    Community & Quality

    Saint Louis community pulse

    Saint Louis has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Net Income

    Top 31%

    #38

    of 124 cities

    $81,535/yr

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Middle of the pack

    #42

    of 124 cities

    29%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Comfortable Weather

    Middle of the pack

    #63

    of 124 cities

    43/100 weather score

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #73

    of 124 cities

    53/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 7%

    #116

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Bottom 4%

    #120

    of 124 cities

    29.9/100

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    1.6 years
    3.0 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    69/yr+69/yr(+34450%)
    Cloud Cover
    43%(vs 34% in San Francisco)