Relocation: Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV to St. Louis, MO-IL
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV to St. Louis, MO-IL.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
St. Louis, MO-IL
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (Monthly) | St. Louis (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $2,204 | $1,104 | -$1,100 | -49.9% |
| Food & Groceries | $413 | $373 | -$40 | -9.7% |
| Transportation | $1,045 | $1,018 | -$27 | -2.6% |
| Healthcare | $389 | $427 | +$38 | +9.8% |
| Other Necessities | $753 | $411 | -$342 | -45.4% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,196 | $2,124 | -$72 | -3.3% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Median | St. Louis Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $156,460 | $93,140 | -$63,320 (-40.5%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $102,710 | $83,180 | -$19,530 (-19.0%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $154,930 | $129,030 | -$25,900 (-16.7%) | View Dossier |
| Management AnalystBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $126,830 | $101,100 | -$25,730 (-20.3%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $102,140 | $78,880 | -$23,260 (-22.8%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $127,030 | $100,510 | -$26,520 (-20.9%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $185,270 | $158,780 | -$26,490 (-14.3%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $195,190 | $167,130 | -$28,060 (-14.4%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $75,930 | $77,170 | +$1,240 (+1.6%) | View Dossier |
| Cybersecurity AnalystTechnology | Technology | $148,950 | $106,420 | -$42,530 (-28.6%) | View Dossier |
| Medical and Health Services ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $140,670 | $106,200 | -$34,470 (-24.5%) | View Dossier |
| Financial AnalystFinance | Finance | $108,330 | $99,950 | -$8,380 (-7.7%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV to St. Louis, MO-IL Relocation FAQs
About $64,400. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (158.9 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 102.3 in St. Louis, MO-IL, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV to St. Louis, MO-IL: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV to St. Louis, MO-IL: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV to St. Louis, MO-IL compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $64,400. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (158.9 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 102.3 in St. Louis, MO-IL, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 35.6% lower in St. Louis, MO-IL than in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.