Irvine vs St. Louis: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Irvine, CA and St. Louis, MO, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Irvine, CA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 304,527 | 298,018 |
| Median household income | $122,948 | $52,941 |
| Median home value | $1,025,700 | $174,100 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,749 | $938 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Irvine, CA and St. Louis, MO comes down to what you value most. St. Louis has the lower median home value, and St. Louis has the lower median rent.
Irvine has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Irvine or St. Louis?
- By median home value, St. Louis is the cheaper of the two ($174,100 vs $1,025,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Irvine or St. Louis?
- Median household income is $122,948 in Irvine versus $52,941 in St. Louis, per the US Census Bureau.