St. Louis vs Jersey City: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of St. Louis, MO and Jersey City, NJ, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricSt. Louis, MOJersey City, NJ
Population298,018287,899
Median household income$52,941$91,151
Median home value$174,100$500,100
Median rent (/mo)$938$1,799

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing St. Louis, MO and Jersey City, NJ comes down to what you value most. St. Louis has the lower median home value, and St. Louis has the lower median rent.

Jersey City 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 St. Louis or Jersey City?
By median home value, St. Louis is the cheaper of the two ($174,100 vs $500,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, St. Louis or Jersey City?
Median household income is $52,941 in St. Louis versus $91,151 in Jersey City, per the US Census Bureau.

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