St. Louis vs Newark: Cost of Living (2026)

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

MetricSt. Louis, MONewark, NJ
Population298,018307,355
Median household income$52,941$46,460
Median home value$174,100$312,300
Median rent (/mo)$938$1,273

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

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

St. Louis 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 Newark?
By median home value, St. Louis is the cheaper of the two ($174,100 vs $312,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, St. Louis or Newark?
Median household income is $52,941 in St. Louis versus $46,460 in Newark, per the US Census Bureau.

More comparisons